Small business grant to help rural S.C. areas
The Savannah office of the Small Business Assistance Corp. (SBAC) has received a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to facilitate loans to private business enterprises in the rural areas of Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Jasper counties, S.C..
The Rural Development for a Rural Business Enterprise grant will be used to buy software and improve SBAC’s online application.
“Productivity gains resulting from this new software will result in more small business loans and better customer service without increasing core operating costs,” said Tony O’Reilly, SBAC’s president.
Since 2010, SBAC has funded $1.8 million in conjunction with area lenders for project dollars totaling $4.15 million.
NeSmith dealership celebrates 40 years
CLAXTON — NeSmith Chevrolet/Buick/GMC will celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary Saturday at NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton.
“It is with great pride and much humility that all of us in the NeSmith family celebrate our 40th anniversary with our customers and community to thank them for helping us reach this great milestone,” said Martin NeSmith, president of NeSmith Chevrolet/Buick/GMC.
The celebration from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. will feature an array of activities, entertainment, live music from four bands, food and a car giveaway.
Guests may register to win an Apple iPad, tickets to the Luke Bryan Farm Tour concert and more giveaways every hour.
Free hot dogs and soft drinks will be available from 5 to 8 p.m.
Pace founder retires, four promoted
Larry Howell, a founding partner of Pace Electrical Contractors, has retired after 30 years.
Howell started Pace in 1985 with co-owner Frank Bartlett. The business has grown into a multi-specialty contractor working on multi-million dollar projects across the Southeast.
With Howell’s retirement, Pace Electric has promoted key staff members.
Webster Thomas is senior commercial estimator and project manager. Josh Fowler is a commercial estimator and project manager. Craig Byars is the company’s new service manager.
Kevin Purvis is the new multi-family estimator and project manager.
Reed House receives NAMI Georgia CIT award
Reed House Inc., which bills itself as Savannah’s mental health clubhouse, was recognized as the “Choice Site Visit” during the annual convention of the Crisis Intervention Training program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for Georgia.
The alliance conducts 40-hour training courses for local police departments to teach officers how to respond to people having a mental health crisis.
Mental health clubhouses focus on people whose lives have been disrupted by serious mental illness to help them increase their skills, enhance their ability to work in a normal work environment and enter the mainstream workforce.