With harbor deepening a done deal and the state sales tax exemption on general aviation parts made permanent, Savannah business leaders served up a few new priorities and doubled down on several ongoing wishes Wednesday morning at its annual Eggs & Issues breakfast.
Held this year at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto, the meeting gave the Governmental Affairs Council of the Savannah Area Chamber an opportunity to present the Savannah area legislative delegation with the issues the business community considers most critical for 2015.
Among the top priorities were public-private partnerships designed to create jobs and education.
In the public-private partnership category, business leaders asked the delegation to:
• Update Georgia’s historic preservation incentives to preserve significant historic landmarks that generate economic growth.
• Restore $14 million in funding for Slip 1 on Hutchinson Island to spur private development projects, such as Savannah Harbor Associates, a joint venture spearheaded by Savannah businessman John Cay and CSX Realty for a mixed-use development on 56 acres of the island.
• Support legislative initiatives that enhance the growth and efficiency of Georgia’s ports.
•Support legislation to strengthen Georgia’s competitiveness for military facilities.
Educational priorities were specific. The business group wants their elected officials to:
• Expand early childhood programs/initiatives and restore pre-K funding by reducing class sizes to 20, funding 190 days for pre-K teachers and fully funding pre-K teacher training and experience commensurate with other public school teachers.
• Support the Technical College System of Georgia’s Capital Outlay Request of $72 million for world-class lab renovations, which includes $5 million for Savannah Technical College.
• Support Savannah State University’s request for $18 million in construction and development funding for a marine and science facility.
• Support Armstrong State University’s request for $1.8 million for the design of a health professions facility.
While only half of the county’s legislators were present, due mostly to obligations in Atlanta, those in attendance had few issues with the Chamber’s agenda.
Missing from the annual event were state Sen.-elect Ben Watson, and state Reps. Bill Hitchens, Bob Bryant and Craig Gordon. Watson was attending New Senator Orientation while Hitchens was at an Aviation and Job Creation study committee meeting and Bryant had an Industry and Labor Committee meeting.
Gordon is out of the country.
Representing the 166th District, newly minted House member Jesse Petrea pledged to make economic development his top priority.
“If every member of our delegation makes the economic development of our area his first priority, we can’t help but be successful,” the Republican businessman said, adding that he hopes to follow delegation chairman Rep. Ron Stephen’s lead in that respect.
“He’s been called the most effective legislator in the state, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to learn from him,” Petrea said.
Democratic state Rep. Mickey Stephens, representing the 165th District, said education was high on his list of priorities.
“Too many young black men are dropping out,” Stephens said. “With no trade and no job, they’re ending up on the street and on the news.
“We have all the academies we need — it’s time to put vocational technical programs back in high school in a big way.”
Stephens also said he would continue to support casino gambling on Hutchinson Island.
“It will bring good jobs and spur development,” he told the crowd.
State Sen. Lester Jackson, a Democrat representing District 2, also stressed the importance of economic development.
“Like many of you, I am a small business owner. But whether you have a big business or a small one, we all know that as Chatham County goes, so go our businesses.
“Fortunately, we have an excellent delegation — one that consistently works together,” he said, adding that Jesse Petrea will be a welcome addition to the group.
Poking good-natured fun at the freshman representative, Jackson joked that he hadn’t heard “a stronger suck-up to Ron Stephens since Buddy Carter left.
“He’s going to fit right in.”
Jackson added he’d like to see two other issues highlighted for 2015 – medical marijuana and public safety.
“As I’ve spoken with parents and learned more about how this might improve the outlook for their children with seizures and related medical disorders, I think this issue merits another look,” he said.
State Rep. Ron Stephens pledged the group will “walk in lock-step” when it comes to bringing jobs and economic development to Chatham County.
“Our job as a delegation is to get out of the way of business and let you do your jobs to create prosperity.”