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Archive for the 'Econ Dev' Category
For those who know me best, I always have wine on the brain. Call me “wino.” And, thanks to local wine aficionados like Christian Depken, owner of Le Chai Wine Shop in the Starland District, I am edging ever closer to understanding wine, as opposed to just drinking it.
So when a read a recent article in the Marietta Daily Journal that described a growing wine industry in Georgia, I took notice. While Depken and other self-named wine snobs put their weight behind old world wines (read: European), I’m sure they’d all agree that the diversification of Georgia’s economy to include an expanding interest in viticulture is pretty damn cool. Not just peaches, pecans and pines anymore. No sir.
According to the Journal, Southern vintners are beginning to develop a foothold in the U.S. wine industry. And grapevines are spreading like wildfire across terrain south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
“…in the American South, the taste ranges from sweet, wet whites from the local scuppernong grapes (a muscadine variant) to Euro-style like chardonnays and merlots.
The Innovation Awards, like Christmas, comes just once a year. And how exciting that the big event is tonight! For those of you who have reserved your seats, I will see you at the Historic Roundhouse!
Just wanted to remind you of several important things to keep in mind:
- Don’t make us say “I told you so” when your hot heels fall flat at the Historic Roundhouse. Please, please (down on my knees begging you) wear sensible shoes.
- VIP parking for hybirds and carpoolers is limited to the first 75 vehicles. So come early and come together. Overflow parking is located at the Visitors Center next door.
- Rain? Cold weather? C’mon, you knew we’d be prepared for that! Don’t let the evening’s forecast dissuade you from attending tonight’s ceremony. We’ve thought of it all… including heat and cover. But feel free to throw a light sweater over your shoulder if you’re worried.
Thanks in advance to all of you beautiful guests! And many, many thanks to our sponsors (especially Lott + Barber!) for making this great event possible.
Yea, you heard us. ESRI, THE leader in GIS technology (makes ArcGIS, ArcView, ArcInfo, etc) featured SEDA (and their multi-functional property search website) on its community showcase section (scroll down the page).
The Property Search website enables users to search for available industrial buildings, office space, and land sites based on multiple search criteria. Results are viewed on a GIS-enhanced dynamic map and can compare locations to community features and transportation access. There is even an option to save a search in a personal portfolio. (FYI, SEDA maintains relationships with area developers and landowners and manages a database of property from 5,000 square feet to 1,400 acres. )
 
The Property Search website is such a great use of ESRI’s technology that not only did they request to do a case study on it, but they asked to showcase the site at the International Users Conference last week. Not too shabby, huh? We’re beaming with pride and admiration for big econ dev brother. You did good!
(A special shout out to Amanda Blind, GIS Analyst and Research Guru at SEDA, for her mappy muscle on this endeavor. Thanks for all your hard work…you go girl!)
For some, this may be old news. With all this great blog fodder to work with I have fallen a few steps behind in reporting the big news: Savannah is a great place to do business.
According to Inc. Magazine’s Best Cities 2008, Savannah ranks as the number three mid-sized city in America to do business and number fifteen city all-around. The ranking has been around since 2004 and reflects economic trends and employment data in 335 regions nationwide. In 2006, Savannah appeared on the list as the 49th best small city (top 50, baby) and 74th overall. The following year, Savannah made the leap from “small” city to “mid-sized.” (The qualification for mid-sized being 150,000 to 450,000 area jobs.) At just over the 150,000 mark, we jumped to the number 10 mid-sized city, 42nd overall in 2007.
Recognize a 46-place and 59-place jump, respectively, in two years time? So, what gives? What have we done so right to see ourselves kicking butt and taking names?
To start, we’re creating jobs. Here’s how the results are amassed:
Let me just start out by saying: I don’t know a ton about this particular subject. I’m sorta new to this whole econdev game. But maybe that’s ok…I’m learning, and hopefully it gives me a “fresh” perspective.
Still, being an diehard enviro-nerd with a flare for the dramatic, when I read my friend and colleague Tommy Linstroth’s op-ed, it kinda made me think: “Mmm, dreams really do come true.”
Head of Sustainable Initiatives for Melaver Inc., Linstroth is one of Savannah’s most learned Champions of the Green. (Plus, he rocks earrings in both ears, Wisconsin style. What’s not to love?)
In the Savannah Morning News this week, Tommy Boy throws out the idea that the solution to this whole mega-site problem is – the New American City.
The mega-site, for those of you who aren’t that familiar (present company included), is the big ole’ hunk of land out on I-16 that the old Gubn’a prophesied would bring the German automotive manufacturing powerhouse (Chrysler) to our sleepy southern town. Only thing is, it turns out he was wrong.
This month announced a major nationwide first: Massachusetts nominated a statewide Creative Economy Director. That’s right - it’s like TCCa on steroids. Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Devall nominated Jason Schupbach, 32 (wowza, a youngin!), to the position. A known patron of the arts, Schupbach appears dedicated to expanding the diverse creative sector (ranging from individual artists to cultural institutions to video game makers) through measures such as tax incentives and training programs. (We need to add him to our Christmas list.)
I think I speak for everyone here when I say: That’s a wicked good idea, govn’ah.
Schupbach echo’s what many of us in Savannah have said all along:
“A strong creative economy translates into a strong overall economy… These are innovators, the cutting edge,” Schupbach explained to the Boston Globe.
This is big news for the creative industry as Massachusetts poses the question: is this something that can be reproduced and proven useful economic policy in other states across the country, especially in a highly competitive era for jobs, companies, and skilled workers?
Now normally, I usually glaze over all the Savannah Morning News “headlines” that come through my RSS reader. This is mostly because SMN only includes a text-message-esque first sentence of their articles in the feeds they publish. I assume this is for advertising purposes, but it still kinda sucks, as I’m not really a fan of summary-only feeds that make me leave the comfy confines of all-encompassing Google Reader.
But, alas, I digress.
The Puente de la Mujer in Buenos Aires
This time however, I happened to stumble upon a particularly tantalizing headline (and accompanying first sentence) from one of my favorite SMN columnists, Bill Dawers. It read something like this:
Thesis Project Imagines a footbridge to Hutchinson
I’ll confess that my eyes rolled a little when Andreas Mayer began to tell me about his thesis project.
Text-message sized teaser aside, I must admit my interest was peaked. Footbridge to Hutchinson? Yes please.
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