Savannah Economic Development Authority

This Business Plan for the Savannah Region outlines strategies to create, grow, and attract new job opportunities and investment. Key focus areas include infrastructure development, business retention and attraction, regional industry support through RISE, international trade facilitation via World Trade Center Savannah, and promotion of the Savannah Regional Film Commission. The plan also details marketing, research, finance, property, and administration efforts to achieve economic development outcomes and enhance the region's competitive advantages.

The 2026 Business Plan aims to create, grow, and attract new job opportunities and investment in the Savannah region. It focuses on several key areas including business development for retention and attraction, regional infrastructure and supplier support, workforce development initiatives through the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE), international trade and foreign direct investment through World Trade Center Savannah, and the promotion of the film industry via the Savannah Regional Film Commission. The plan is supported by strategic marketing, research, and diligent financial and property administration to achieve its economic development objectives.

This strategic plan outlines new directions for the Savannah Economic Development by focusing on two dynamic parts: 'the engine' and 'the operator'. The 'engine' priorities include amplifying manufacturing success through selective project criteria, positioning Savannah as a logistics innovation center with advanced technology and skilled workforce, and supporting an innovation consortium through educational and industry partnerships. The 'operator' aims to establish the region as a globally recognized design hub by leveraging its creative pipeline, attracting anchor firms, and developing innovation infrastructure, while also expanding the knowledge-based work ecosystem and fostering new entrepreneurs through Startup Savannah. The plan is designed to propel businesses and the entire region forward through collective power and shared vision.

This strategic plan for the Savannah Economic Development Authority provides a roadmap for competitive positioning, target industry identification, and economic development. It focuses on four key recommendations: exercising a selective approach to manufacturing, positioning the region as a center for logistics innovation, establishing Savannah as a design hub, and expanding the knowledge-based work ecosystem. The plan aims to leverage existing assets, foster high-skill and high-wage job opportunities, and ensure sustainable regional growth by building connective pathways between the region's creative and analytical strengths.