So yea, we woke up yesterday and were 50% bigger.

Effective yesterday morning at 10:30 AM (at the SEDA board meeting), The Creative Coast Initiative has merged with it’s little (big) sis…the Coastal Business Educational and Technology Alliance (cBETA).

The newly combined organizations will now be known as The Creative Coast Alliance. (Sounds kinda ominous and big-brothery. “The Alliance.”) The cBETA brand (and eventually the website) will cease to exist and will be brought under the new “Alliance” brand and current TCCi (now TCCa) website. Fun with non-profit mergers!

What gives, you ask? You’re supposed to be quick-moving, light and agile, ready to leap trendy historic office spaces in a single bound, you say? Gobbling up cBETA? Oh the humanity!

Chill people. It’s not a that big deal…well maybe, but it’s really cool.

A little about both of us from the press release:

In its 11-year existence, the Coastal Business, Education and Technology Alliance (cBETA) has focused on professional development and networking as well as the development of infrastructure to support Savannah’s knowledge-based community. In 2003, cBETA helped to create The Creative Coast Initiative, which has focused on attracting, nurturing and promoting knowledge-based business in Savannah. Merging the two entities affords more efficient use of resources and capabilities.

We’re really gonna kick some @$$ now.

Why are we doing this? Basically, we’re trying to be more efficient and pool our resources. The missions of TCCi and cBETA have been similar for years: TCCi was focused on marketing and recruitment while cBETA was focused on member services. Together they’ll have everything under one roof and hopefully things will be more streamlined, meaning: more and better stuff for you guys.

We’ll also gain some new staff! Again, from the release:

SEDA vice president Chuck Stallworth will lead The Creative Coast Alliance (TCCa) alongside Jamie Wolf, cBETA’s managing director, in efforts to help attract and grow knowledge-based businesses and higher-wage jobs to Savannah. Chris Miller, TCCi’s executive director and founder, will continue in the role of chief strategist for the combined organizations as an active professional consultant and advisor.

So yea, we’ve grown. From 4 to 6 peeps with a new 501©(6) status to boot. (We’ll absorbing cBETA’s membership functionality.)

So, what kind of stuff will we be doing?

• Improving regional and national awareness through marketing, public relations, and award/recognition program participation
• Expanded efforts to recruit businesses nationally while incubating new businesses locally
• Undertaking advocacy and policy initiatives on behalf of area business interests
• Promoting educational and professional development with conferences and seminars
• Supporting entrepreneurial efforts through capital formation, grant awareness and investor conferences
• Promoting talent recruitment and retention with online resources and direct outreach

Sounds like fun, huh? As always, we’ll keep you posted. We’re still sorting through all the post-merger details, getting used to each other and generally learning how to be a big happy knowledge-based business loving family.

If you’ve got questions, bring ‘em on!

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