Economic Development
The metropolitan Savannah area continues to advance thanks to its diverse industry mix, economy and a strong small business community that have combined to help the regional economy sustain a healthy balance and maintain a quality of life that continues to rate among the nation’s best.
The Savannah region is fortunate to have such a distinctive economic base. The six major sectors that drive our economy are manufacturing, tourism, military, ports/logistics, health care and education.
Manufacturing creates a $1.7 billion annual direct economic impact. The largest component of our manufacturing base is transportation equipment construction and also includes chemical, pulp/paper and food additive manufacturing. The tourism industry continues to excel and currently provides a $2 billion annual economic impact in Chatham County. The Savannah region is home to more than 25,000 active men and women in uniform who do so much to defend our nation. Our troops, defense contractors and the civilian military support staff create an annual $4.5 billion economic impact to coastal Georgia.
According to the Georgia Ports Authority, our deepwater ports support nearly 300,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $15.5 billion in income, $61.7 billion in revenue and $2.6 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. Savannah is also privileged to have two award-winning hospitals with state-of-the-art treatment centers as well as countless medical support functions. More than 1,100 beds reside between St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System and Memorial University Medical Center. The educational segment of our economy encompasses two parts, K-12 (both public and private schools) and the 19 institutions of higher learning in and around the Savannah area. What is important to note in the educational arena is that more than 50,000 are enrolled in our various post secondary institutions.
For more information regarding Economic Development at the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, please contact Trip Tollison at 912.644.6422 or ttollison@savannahchamber.com.
