Welcome to the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
What is the Chamber of Commerce?
The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of businesses and professional men and women who have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial and economic development of the community. There are approximately 2,200 member organizations investing in the success of the Chamber via their annual dues and contributions.
The area’s economic well-being is directly related to the caliber of work performed by the Chamber, and this is the reason the Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future economic growth within the community. The Chamber is an economic development organization acting as a spokesperson for the business and professional community by translating group thoughts and involvement by its members into action. The Chamber renders a variety of services both to its members and the community as a whole.
The modern Chamber of Commerce is an outgrowth of the earlier efforts of businesses to organize, and undoubtedly had its beginnings in the fairs and guilds of medieval Europe. The Chambers of Commerce in the United States were originally designed almost exclusively as trade entities, but also, promoters of community development and goodwill.
The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce was established in 1806 as a trade association concentrating its efforts on trade. It is one of the oldest Chambers in the United States and has been in continuous operation since the founding date. Over the years, it has expanded from the narrow interests of the mercantile community to the broad scope of the business and professional communities. It has also expanded its scope from just the city of Savannah, to include the entire Savannah area and surrounding communities. The Chamber now encompasses the coastal regions and deals with the affairs of the state, national and international entities which affect the Savannah area.
Since 1974, there have been several major changes in the Chamber’s functions and operations. In that year, the Chamber’s Board of Directors determined that increased programming in the area of tourism would greatly benefit the community development. Work began to establish the Savannah Visitors Center, which became the first stop for visitors in the area. The Central of Georgia Railroad depot was restored by the Chamber for use as its offices and also to house the first Visitors center. This depot is now on the register as a national historic landmark.
In 1976, the Chamber’s programs were greatly expanded through the development of the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Bureau took on the responsibility for a broad marketing program to establish Savannah as a destination for both conventions and leisure visitors. The Bureau has been largely responsible for the growth and development of Savannah’s important and profitable tourism and convention industry. At the same time, programs were developed to better strengthen other areas of Chamber involvement.
A program reorganization in 1986 has refocused the Chamber’s mission, giving it broader responsibilities in the community and economic development. The Chamber has now become a partner in more cohesive approach to this widespread community and economic development.
In 1993, a revised Vision and Mission Statements were developed by the Board of Directors. A core values statement was adopted in 1995.
Mission Statement
To provide quality customer service and programs that meet the needs of our members, improve the economic environment of our community and build a legacy of leadership for the next century.
Vision Statement
The Chamber is the essential investment for the future of every business.
Core Values
Integrity…in all endeavors
Leadership…strong, respected and forward thinking
Teamwork…in accomplishing common goals
Create benefit…essential response to member investment
Embrace diversity…among individuals, companies and ideas
Fiscal responsibility…in all efforts and actions
Service excellence…exceeding the expectations of our members large and small
Effective communication…to, from and for our members
Innovative solutions…to current and future challenges
Citizenship…committed and involved throughout our region
History:
The prominent merchants of 19th century Savannah organized the city’s first Chamber of Commerce at a meeting on December 13, 1806 at the City Exchange Building, a site now occupied by Savannah’s City Hall. Organizers appointed a committee of seven to draft a constitution for the government that would become the Chamber.
The committee reported back to the city’s businessmen on December 30, 1806, proposing 17 rules that included provisions calling for initial membership fees of five dollars, for membership to be open “only to merchants, traders, factors and insurance brokers;” and for fines for “officers refusing to serve after being elected.” The rules were unanimously agreed to by the 85 “subscribers” in attendance, making the Savannah Chamber of Commerce Georgia’s oldest professional organization and the seventh oldest Chamber in the United States.
Like in 1806, it has been the Chamber’s leadership that has paved the way for Savannah to thrive as a unified business front. Mostly a volunteer-based organization, the Chamber has benefited over the years from the expertise and influence of many of Savannah’s most prominent business people, both past and present. It has been the commitments made by the many Chamber volunteer leaders that have helped Savannah make its mark in the world.
The Savannah Chamber has been on the forefront of events that have shaped this community and impacted the world. Advances in business and technology made through Chamber support have reverberated throughout this community for more than 200 years. One of the most influential was the creation of a system of weights and measures in 1806 used to monitor and track shipping activity at the port of Savannah. The Savannah Chamber was on board early for the development of Savannah’s shipping and port activity. The Chamber’s leadership anticipated the importance that the ports would play on the growth and economic stability of Savannah.
One such port-related venture was Savannah Chamber’s backing of the 1819 maiden voyage of the S.S. Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. In only 29 days, the S.S. Savannah arrived in Liverpool, England, and the Port of Savannah appeared on the world’s shipping stage.
In 1945, the Chamber created the Industry Committee, which later absorbed into the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). Today, the GPA operations, along with private-sector port-related operations, account for more than 295,000 jobs statewide, billions of dollars in revenue and income exceeding $10.8 billion annually.
The Chamber supported the Central of Georgia Railroad in 1841. The longest privately-owned railroad in the country at the time, the Central of Georgia operated for more than 136 years transporting area-grown products like cotton and pulp as well as passengers to and from central Georgia farms. The last train passed through the station in 1971, which now houses the Visitor Information Center.
In the 1920s, the Chamber created the Savannah Port Authority, now known as the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), to improve the standard of living in Chatham County. Today, SEDA provides professional site services and eases access to state and local resources.
Not only has the Chamber worked to better the business economy of Savannah, the organization has helped to improve community development as well. In the 1940s, the Chamber was instrumental in getting the President Street extension, connecting Savannah’s business district with outlying neighborhoods. The Chamber also aided the city in developing a public landfill and bringing in natural gas as a power option for industrial and domestic use.
How We Operate:
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the policy making body of the Chamber. Its members represent the business and professional leadership of the community. The Board consists of 48 elected members who are elected from the community for leadership roles. Each member is elected to serve a three-year term.
The Board establishes the annual operating budget and the specific program concentrations for the Chamber, then oversees the progress and profitability of each during the course of the year.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the Officers and may include one or more “At-Large” members. It exercises the powers of the Board between scheduled Board meetings.
Chairperson
The Chairperson is the volunteer leader of the organization, presides over the Board and Executive Committee meetings, appoints committee chairpersons, and is the spokesperson for the organization. The bylaws call for one or more Vice Chairpersons to oversee the various departmental areas of involvement within the Chamber.
Committees
Committees, task forces and councils provide the most effective means of harnessing the energies and abilities of volunteer workers. Volunteers are drawn from among the various Chamber members to assist in the projects of the Chamber.
How We Are Financed:
The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce is financed primarily by annual membership dues and member contributions. The maintenance of an adequate level of support from all business and professional interests in the community is essential to the finance of all programs and projects.
The Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau receives funding support from the City and County collections of hotel/motel tax revenues. This public sector support is earmarked for the Bureau to help in its efforts to be competitive and successful in the marketing efforts of Savannah.
