Archive for the 'Econ Dev' Category

Google, GA? What’s your best idea on how to get Google fiber to Savannah?

By now most of you have probably heard about Google’s bold play to offer fiber/broadband in select cities across the country. The search engine giant has invited municipalities to submit requests to host an ultra-high-speed broadband network that promises to deliver Internet service 100 times faster than what most Americans can access. Google will spot for the cost of installing the fiber network to connect up to 500,000 people, and would provide access at a competitive price to current services. (Check out the recent article in the Savannah Morning News for more info.)


It seems like cities across the country are pulling out the stops to court the Internet behemoth to their respective towns, from Topeka, KS renaming itself “Google” for one month, to the Deluth, MN mayor tossing himself into Lake Superior.

Before you ask, “why isn’t Savannah looking into this”, we are. The city and local business leaders have been meeting quietly to pull together information for the March 26th application deadline. We’ve also received many calls and emails about “the situation”, and will be meeting with a local group organized by Marjorie Young on Thursday. We’ve been talking to the City about how we can help and are fully on board and excited about making Savannah’s bid for this deal as creative and compelling as it can possibly be. 


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Spots Now Open for Geekend Vendors; Innovation Awards + Geekend = MONEY

If you’re a bargain shopper like us, listen up. (Seriously, we’d buy a broken barometer if it were half off.) The Creative Coast Alliance and Geekend are rewarding you just for waking up this morning. Thaaat’s right, it’s Two-fer Thursday! Actually, it’s more like Two-fer October because when you purchase your tickets to the 2009 Innovation Awards, you’ll receive 58% off the weekend pass price for the Geekend Conference, November 6-8, 2009. (This is valid for the entire month.)

As most of you hopefully know by now, Geekend is the annual gathering of the “geek tribe” (that’s us!) that will take place here in the Hostess City. It’s what you might call an interactive conference with some truly awesome parties, the kind of event that you’ll be texting, tweeting and Facebooking from. You’ll be surrounded by creative geekiness - the brightest designers, developers, techies and social media mavericks ever to descend upon Savannah - for a weekend filled with cutting edge speakers (we’re not kidding here, the list is impressive) and panels, afterparties and networking.


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Coastal Georgia Greenway picks up speed

I have been hearing about the Coastal Georgia Greenway (CGG) since I moved to Savannah three years ago. Alot of people in this town (and beyond) have been heavily invested in furthering this great recreational endeavor, noteworthy among them is the Savannah Bicycle Campaign. (Many other organizations also support the Greenway, including the Center for a Sustainable Coast, the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and the Million Mile Greenway.) The goal is thus: to complete the proposed legacy project of a 161-mile continuous multi-use trail system that links Florida to South Carolina through Georgia’s six coastal counties. When complete, this thruway would include ferries, historic canal corridors, abandoned rail corridors, scenic byways; the National Gullah-Geechee Heritage Corridor and its historic towns.

The idea behind the Greenway is one that parallels the principles of sustainability:

  • Economic - to generate recreational tourism as visitors travel by foot, horse or bicycle along the Georgia Coast;
  • Social
    - to create recreational opportunities for visitors and residents,
    thus contributing to health, well-being and quality of life;

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Savannah Peeps Compete on a National Stage at SXSW! (And you can help…)

Ever heard of SXSW (South-by-Southwest), the uber cool annual music festival that takes place in Austin, TX? Well, did you know the music aspect is one of only three parts of AWESOME conference? The skinny is this… In 1994 as the entertainment business adjusted to issues of future growth and development, SXSW added conferences and festivals for the film industry (SXSW Film) as well as for the blossoming interactive media (SXSW Interactive Festival). Now three industry events converge in Austin during a Texas-sized week, mirroring the ever increasing convergence of entertainment/media outlets.

It’s one of the biggest events in nerdery, and we’re not exaggerating. It’s BIG.

sxsw

So, imagine our extreme delight when we learned that three (count ‘em, three) groups of local Savannah braniacs are competing for an invitation to present at the Interactive Festival. This is the major leagues, people. And they could really use your help!

The competition is fierce, so please consider giving some Savannah folks your love! Do it before Friday, 9/4!


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