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Fitz HaileDirector of Marketing, Public Relations & Web

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We are a non-prof it organizat ion supported by The City of Savannah, Chatham County and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) that exists to help create, grow and attract higher-wage jobs and knowledge-based businesses in Savannah, furthering the development of an innovation economy.

Who we are...

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‣ Create and manage a leading Savannah website that helps attract new biz and supports local entrepreneurs.

‣ Manage a blog that generates relevant discussion and awareness of related issues.

‣ We run one of the most successful job and resume boards in Savannah, connecting talent to jobs and jobs to talent.

‣ Produce events that allow people, ideas and businesses to meet, connect and interact.

‣ Counsel entrepreneurs, and offer professional development and educational programs.

‣ Collaborate with other related agencies and organizations – ATDC, ASAP, SDRA, SBAC, SBDC.

‣ Measure, assess and analyze relevant local economic trends.

‣ Stay aware of new developments in the KBB community and get involved in civic issues that create a better environment for the growth and attraction of knowledge workers and businesses.

‣ Market Savannah externally as an ideal place for knowledge-based businesses, working the leads and managing the projects that get generated.

What we do...

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Why we do it...‣ To help diversify the economy and highlight and maximize the

area’s unique assets (talent, technology, quality of life, etc.)

‣ KBBs tend to be smaller, more agile businesses that create a more stable economic environment

‣ Increases the real average wage

‣ Provides a wage growth path for lower wage workers

‣ Helps retain graduates from local universities

‣ Attracts people who are smart, solution-oriented, and progressive and will invest those qualities in the community

‣ Makes Savannah better, not just bigger

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We’ve been sailing along doing...

“Create. Grow. Attract.”

2004 - 2009

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2009-2010-????

As an organization...

What comes next?

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“You need to generate your own revenue.”

(Now.)

2009-2010

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(Change.)

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We’ve known this

was coming...

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(But not so soon.)

And it’s our reality.

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That’s why we’ve

been “in the news.”

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“Troubled waters?”

We see opportunity.

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But the gist is this:

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How we are funded...

CountyCity

SEDA

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How we will be funded...

•Membership?•Sponsorship?•Premium Services?

CountyCity

SEDA

TCCa Revenue

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So, now what do we do??

Is there an

app for

that?

Not really.

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“How to change, when change is hard?”

So, the question is...

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Don’t Solve Problems.Copy Success.

(Find a bright spot and clone it.)

The first step:

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Enter the “Transition Team”

(Zelda Tenenbaum, Helen Downing, Brian Murphy, Susan Isaacs, Radford Harrell, Cathy Hill, Mike Polak, Letty Shearer)

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They’re going to help us find the

bright spots.

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Speaking of which...

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Are things that help YOU.

Our “bright spots”...

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For example...

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You can promote your business,

on our website...

for FREE?

Did you know...

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Promote...Post your press releases, news and events on our website.‣ In addition to thousands of daily page views on the site, hundreds

of locals subscribe to receive email updates when you do.

Add yourself to our online business directory‣ Thousands of locals visit every month, and we list over 4,000 local

businesses. You should be there.

Post your jobs/available positions‣ Over 200 positions have been filled in the last year. Hundreds

subscribe to receive email alerts each time a job is posted.

Add your community actions (new!)‣ “Good deeds” - i.e. something new and meaningful you are doing

that makes Savannah a better place to live, work and play. Actions Speak.

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You can receive email alerts

for EVERY type of information I

just mentioned?(And we have more than 30,000 subscriptions.)

Did you know...

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We have a dedicated staff

person who is committed to

assisting local entrepreneurs

with a variety of issues.

Did you know...

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Support & Assist...Professional development‣ We’ve hosted lectures & workshops on intellectual property, grants

& funding, SEO/SEM, social media marketing, and more.

Funding‣ We offer help and advice on angel financing (and how/if to get it),

debt financing, and grant funding.

Resources and incentives‣ We can tell you if and what you qualify for, or point you in the

direction of someone who can.

Potential business development activities & contests‣ We host or parter with organizations like GRA, TAG, CONNECT and

Fast Pitch to host business competitions and mentoring that can help you gain valuable exposure, experience and even cash prizes.

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We host five different kinds

of networking events for

businesses like yours?

Did you know...

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Network & ConnectCoffee & Conversation (every Tuesday morning @ 8am)‣ A low-key and intimate opportunity to chat with TCCa staff and a

handful of other locals who like to do the same.

The cSpot (last Wednesday of every month)‣ In partnership w/ Clark Creative, cSpot provides a casual enviro for

creatives to meet, and build relationships (over beer).

Business Open Houses (about every two months)‣ We take the party on location to local KBB offices, co-hosting an

event to showcase who they are what they have to offer.

Food for thought (every month)‣ In cooperation with ATDC of GTS, the event offers small and

medium-sized businesses a monthly place to talk shop, with lectures offered by expert speakers.

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And of course...

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Innovation Awards(Where we honor those of YOU who demonstrate bold innovation in business, non-profit, education, government &

sustainability.)

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So, to wrap up...

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We are excited

about the future.

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We aren’t sure what

it will look like.

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But we have a

guess.

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While paying respects to manufacturing, the port, the military, hospitality and healthcare as the economic giants that sustain us, we think the next greatest economic opportunity for Savannah is the creation, growth and attraction of businesses based on local colleges and universities and the unique eco-systems of talent, resources, infrastructure, and industry-specific expertise that evolve around them.

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And we think our

mission is vital to

this community.

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We want to expand

our reach to

everyone and all

walks of life.

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(That means you.)

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So, thank you for

listening.

(And we welcome your input.)

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:)

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The Creative Coast Vision is for Savannah/Chatham County to become the economic hub of the most creative, innovative, and progressive region in Georgia (and perhaps one day, the Southeastern US), with continually increasing opportunity and prosperity for everyone.

Our Vision

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Questions?