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The mission of the City of Savannah’s Economic Development Department is to facilitate the development of activities that assist in fostering and sustaining diversified economies to engender a strong local economy, provide for a better quality of life in Savannah neighborhoods and decrease the number of individuals living below the poverty level through business development and enhancement, community and corridor revitalization, and asset building. The Economic Development Department is in the Bureau of Public Development and operates the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Program, and is responsible for the revitalization of 16 targeted corridors. Other activities within the department include Financial Literacy training, partnership in an Individual Development Account Program with the Economic Opportunities Authority (EOA) and participation in a collaboration to provide a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to maximize tax refunds for persons with low to moderate incomes through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Housing Department provides financial and technical assistance to residential property owners in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Target Areas in the following ways. It renovates affordable rental housing through Community Housing Services Agency, Inc., a nonprofit private/public corporation that offers low interest loans for property owners to upgrade existing structures. The department offers low-interest rehabilitation loans to low income homeowners. Housing provides relocation assistance to occupants who are forced to relocate, either temporarily or permanently, by rehabilitation activity.
DCA operates a host of state and federal grant programs; serves as the state’s lead agency in housing finance and development; promulgates building codes to be adopted by local governments; provides comprehensive planning, technical and research assistance to local governments; and serves as the lead agency for the state’s solid waste reduction efforts.
The Department of Natural Resources has statewide responsibilities for the management and conservation of Georgia’s natural and cultural resources. Most of this work is conducted by DNR’s six operating divisions which include: Coastal Resources Division, Environmental Protection Division, Historic Preservation Division, Pollution Prevention Assistance Division, Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites Division and Wildlife Resources Division.
The Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) offers a variety of programs and services to promote the preservation of Savannah’s historic built environment and enhance the livability of the historic districts. A description of some of the programs are listed below.
The Preservation Easement Program was established by HSF to preserve properties while offering a tax incentive to property owners. An easement is a legal document regulating the use of or changes to real property. Property owners donate the easement to HSF and the property owner receives income, gift, and estate tax advantages. Additionally, the easement holder agencies protect the property against adverse changes through acquisition of a partial interest rather than assumption of the full burden of property ownership.
The Revolving Fund is a nationally recognized program developed to save historic buildings from demolition. The Fund provides resources for HSF to purchase endangered historic structures and hold them for resale to a new owner committed to restoration. Restrictive covenants are retained on the property to assure its future preservation and maintenance.
Savannah Development and Renewal Authority (SDRA) is a public authority established to enhance revitalization and redevelopment of Greater Downtown Savannah.
The mission of the SDRA is to lead a coordinated strategy of economic development and civic design strengthening Greater Downtown Savannah as the heart of Savannah for all Savannahians, the economic hub of the region, a prosperous place for business and institutions, and an attractive urban environment for residents and visitors.
SDRA has a Business Resource Center, a one-stop shop which houses information to assist existing and prospective business owners with business start-up, expansion and relocation. The Resource Center houses lists of available properties, information on property improvement programs, information on business counseling services, and material on local, state, and regional development and property rehabilitation tools.
The mission of Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) is to improve the standard of living for all persons living in Chatham County by stimulating economic growth through the attraction of new investment, the creation of new jobs, and the support of established businesses already in the area. It serves as the business solicitation and facility location organization in Savannah/Chatham County. Twice named one of the top ten development groups in the country, SEDA assists companies interested in expanding or relocating to the area and works with locally established companies to improve or sustain their economic position.
The TCCa Ambassadors meet at Cafe Ambrosia each Tuesday morning to introduce those new to…
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