It may have Savannah in its name, but its scope is designed to reach far beyond the city.
In fact, one of the intentions behind the creation of World Trade Center Savannah was to provide a meaningful and effective economic development tool for the entire region, said organization vice president Brynn Grant.
That intention took a big step closer to reality Monday as the WTC Savannah announced that Screven County Development Authority has become a platinum partner.
While several county development authorities have been encouraging from the beginning, Screven County — whose county seat Sylvania is approximately 65 miles northwest of Savannah on Ga. 21 — is the first in the region to invest in a formal relationship.
WTC Savannah will work with the Screven County organization to help their established businesses grow internationally and provide them the access and opportunities to identify new foreign direct investment projects.
“Screven County is home to companies that are already doing business internationally and those that aspire to do business internationally,” said Dorie Bacon, executive director of SCDA.
“It just makes sense for the Screven County Development Authority to engage World Trade Center Savannah, which already has a vast network and knowledge in doing business internationally,” Bacon said.
“With their assistance, we can help businesses right here, right now take the next steps in their international growth.”
Grant called the new relationship a significant milestone in World Trade Center Savannah’s short history.
“The partnership between World Trade Center Savannah and Screven County Development Authority is the perfect example of the region working together to achieve the ultimate goal for all of us, which is to create jobs and attract investment,” she said. “By working with SCDA, we can help them do that on an international level.”
World Trade Center Savannah is working to formalize similar relationships with other supportive economic development groups, Grant said.
World Trade Center Savannah has three main objectives — to help regional businesses expand internationally, to identify more foreign direct investment opportunities for the region and to generate revenue to support those activities.
Governed by a regional board, WTC Savannah offers companies valuable information and services to help them do business internationally — from country and industry-specific research, international protocol, trade information and education to business match-making and trade mission planning.
As a part of the World Trade Centers Association, WTC Savannah is connected to more nearly 300 world trade centers in more than almost 100 countries with more than 1 million associated businesses.
ON THE WEB
For more information about World Trade Center Savannah, go to www.wtcsavannah.org. For more information about the Screven County Development Authority, go to www.screvencountydevelopmentauthority.com.
