SEDA : Annual Report / 2020

SEDA Top 10 of 2020

2020 was like no other – and while we all had to adapt, our mission and focus remained the same – to create new job opportunities and investment in the Savannah region. SEDA’s 2020 Top 10 include:

Business Development

2020. Thousands of new job opportunities created. Millions of dollars invested. Countless square feet now occupied. Those who do business here, chose to grow here. Those who explored new opportunities, realized their potential here. Product development in our region for now and the future. These are the cornerstones of successful business development and demonstrate the continued viability of our region.

Highlights

Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive

In May 2020, SEDA established a new Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive. The program reimburses individual moving expenses up to $2,000 for qualified technology workers currently located outside of Savannah.

Savannah Logistics Technology Center

The Savannah Economic Development Authority continued to play a role in the Savannah Logistics Technology Center to fully leverage state designation and to activate the growth of high-wage technology related jobs in the region.

Man working on a computer with headphones on

Workforce Initiatives

In January 2020, SEDA hosted the inaugural Economic Development for Educators program. This five session program hosted teachers and administrators in Chatham County to help educate on how...

Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center and Product Development

On December 8, 2020 local elected officials and business leaders came together for the ribbon cutting for the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center. The 744-acre property will accommodate advanced...

Woman holding a rake smiling at the camera

Savannah Area Good Corporate Citizen Project

The Savannah Area Good Corporate Citizen Project, which launched in 2020, is a business resource that encourages efforts towards good corporate citizenship.

Man talking to a camera standing in front of a fountain

Plug and Play

Plug and Play, the Silicon-Valley based venture capital firm and corporate innovation platform, is announcing its partnership with SEDA to establish a First-Mile Logistics...

Savannah Regional Film Commission

The impact of COVID was directly felt worldwide on the entertainment production industry. In 2019, the Savannah region saw a direct spend of $125.7 million and in 2020 the direct spend was $21.4 million.

World Trade Center Savannah

Over the past nine years, World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) has evolved to meet the needs of our partners and Coastal Georgia but our mission still stands true:

Help regional businesses do business internationally
Help facilitate direct investment opportunities for the region
Generate revenue to support these activities

Front of the World Trade Center in Savannah

WTC Savannah 2020 Year in Review

While 2020 proved to be a unique and challenging year for every business and organization, the World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) team found ways to adapt and continue moving forward to better serve the organization’s partners and drive its mission forward.

World Trade Center Savannah has 61 partners in 16 counties across Southeast Georgia. While the organization provides services and value to support these partners every year, the assistance offered in 2020 looked much different than before. When the COVID-19-related lockdowns began in March, the WTCSav team made plans to check in on every partner to see how they could assist or help meet partners’ needs.

The team continued to provide customized research at partners’ requests throughout the year. From helping partners identify exporting opportunities as they explored new markets, to validating the authenticity of tenders abroad, there was always a need for research. In total, the WTCSav team managed 81 trade service projects for its partners resulting in a total of 506 research hours to advance international business interests and promote growth in the Savannah region.

“Becoming a part of FTZ 104 is a positive addition to the business development efforts of Burke County,”
Molly Olson, Executive Director, Development Authority of Burke County

World Trade Center Savannah is also the grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 104. The FTZ program expedites and encourages foreign commerce by lowering the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade thus providing a secure, efficient and profitable way to compete effectively in domestic and global markets. In 2020, WTCSav was given approval to expand the FTZ 104 Alternative Site Framework to include a large portion of Burke County bringing the total number of Southeast Georgia counties in FTZ 104 to 17.

“Becoming a part of FTZ 104 is a positive addition to the business development efforts of Burke County,” said Development Authority of Burke County Executive Director Molly Olson. “This is an asset to new companies that choose to make Burke County their home and to existing businesses in the area specifically those in the manufacturing, distribution and warehousing industries. We are delighted to be a part of this program.”

At the start of 2020, WTCSav welcomed an inbound delegation from Limerick County, Ireland and a group from TransferMate, a B2B payments technology firm headquartered in Kilkenny, Ireland. Even though travel was limited after March, the WTCSav staff maintained strong relationships with its international partners and continued to identify new trade opportunities around the world. The focus remained on WTCSav’s six target countries: Canada, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan and the United Kingdom.

While the team didn’t welcome guests from all over the globe in person, they “went virtual” and hosted 23 inbound delegations that included 123 delegates from nine countries. The WTCSav team also had the opportunity to present to a business group located in Leeuwarden, a city in the Netherlands. The presentation included Richland Estates owner Eric Vonk who is from the Netherlands, opened his company in Richland, Georgia and now calls the state home.

Of course, the partnership with Ireland remained one of WTCSav’s top priorities for the year. World Trade Center Savannah continued to expand the TradeBridge initiative, which aims to create new trade opportunities between Wexford County, Ireland and Savannah, and shepherd partnerships with and around businesses in Southeast Ireland. The WTCSav team ensured to make contact with WTCSav’s Irish partners at least monthly to identify ways the two regions could assist and support one another.

2020 started with three successful Global Education Programs, one of which focused on the updated Incoterms® and was presented by Expeditors International Global Trainer Lyle McGhin. After mid-March, the WTCSav team pivoted and began offering Global Education Programs virtually. While not ideal, the new platform proved to have a silver lining reaching a wide audience not limited by location. World Trade Center Savannah offered 16 Global Education Programs and events in total with 685 participants joining from 120 cities and four countries.

Most of the WTCSav Board of Directors meetings were held virtually in 2020. The year’s concluding board meeting featured Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner of International Trade Mary Waters who gave a presentation on the outlook of Georgia’s trade and economic development. With their hopes set high for 2021, the WTCSav team is looking forward to in-person meetings, trade missions to target countries and the continuation of helping their partners do business internationally.

Brodie International President accepts the WTCSav International Business of the Year from Georgia Southern University President Dr. Kyle Marrero. Also pictured is WTCSav President and CEO Trip Tollison and Development Authority of Bulloch County CEO Benjy Thompson.

“We are honored to be a part of this day and event and honored to present the 2020 International Business of the Year award to our dear friends at Brodie International.”
- Dr. Kyle Marrero, President Georgia Southern University

“We are makers, innovators and leaders here and we take great pride in being recognized as a company that advances our region internationally. Thank you for considering us for and honoring us with this award.”
- Ruprecht von Gwinner, President Brodie International

In October, World Trade Center Savannah announced that Brodie International was the recipient of the 2020 World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year. The award was given during an outdoor ceremony with Brodie employees and local representatives and presented by Georgia Southern University’s President Kyle Marrero.

Brodie is a world class manufacturer of positive displacement technology metering solutions for liquid transfer applications in the energy industry. Brodie has perfected the positive displacement technology to an extent that these meters are the most accurate meters for custody transfer application on the global market today. Brodie has become a supplier of integrated systems in recent years and sold a large oil measurement system to a Chinese customer for $6 million just last year. The company is in the process of introducing lean manufacturing to its shop floor with the help of Georgia Southern University which will allow Brodie to be a stronger supplier for the oil industry in years to come.

“We really love honoring companies in our region that make global impacts and lead the way in international business,” said World Trade Center Savannah President and CEO Trip Tollison. “Brodie International is an ideal recipient of this award because the staff and leadership here at Brodie continue to work incredibly hard to distinguish themselves as an industry leader in the global market.”

Given annually, the World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year Award recognizes companies that excel in international trade and acknowledges the importance of trade to the region’s economy. This year’s award was sponsored by Georgia Southern University.

WTCSav International Business of the Year Award

Brodie International was the 2020 recipient of the WTCSav International Business of the Year.

“We are honored to be a part of this day and event and honored to present the 2020 International Business of the Year award to our dear friends at Brodie International,” said Georgia Southern University President Dr. Kyle Marrero said during the ceremony. “It takes effort from every business and organization to put Bulloch County on the international map, and Brodie is leading the way and setting a tremendous example for other local companies.”

Formed in 1928, Brodie’s Statesboro campus is where employees design, engineer and manufacture world class measurement and control solutions. The 165,000 square foot International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-certified facility contains one of the largest flow calibration centers in North America.

“To be the recipient of World Trade Center Savannah’s 2020 International Business of the Year award is a true honor to everyone here at Brodie,” said Brodie International President Ruprecht von Gwinner. “We are makers, innovators and leaders here and we take great pride in being recognized as a company that advances our region internationally. Thank you for considering us for and honoring us with this award.”

Brodie International was nominated by the Development Authority of Bulloch County staff and leadership.

“It was an easy choice for us to nominate this outstanding local company,” said Development Authority of Bulloch County CEO Benjy Thompson. “We are incredibly proud that they received this recognition and look forward to how they will impact our county in the future.”

This award is presented to encourage and recognize exemplary corporate leadership for international business or trade that advances relations between the U.S. and other nations as well as creates quality jobs in the region.

Two women standing in front of a banner with the text World Trade Center Savannah on it

Foster Beelief's Karen Perez and Sade Shofidiya

“This competition is unique as it unites students around the important mission of creating peace through trade, and it allows us to connect with the leaders of tomorrow and to expand our community of young talent for the World Trade Centers Association”
Robin van Puyenbroeck, WTCA Executive Director of Business Development

World Trade Centers Association Foundation (WTCAF), an affiliated organization with World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), announced in September that two Savannah State University students were named the winner of the 2020 Peace Through Trade Competition. The all-female team’s entry, Foster Beelief, is a student-led honeybee charity that works to promote sustainability through the education of the at-risk honeybee population, increasing STEM interests and environmental stewardship, building stronger industry and community partnerships and increasing citizen involvement in communities.

The Foster Beelief team willl present their project to the entire World Trade Centers Association membership in 2021.

“This competition is unique as it unites students around the important mission of creating peace through trade, and it allows us to connect with the leaders of tomorrow and to expand our community of young talent for the World Trade Centers Association,” said WTCA Executive Director of Business Development Robin van Puyenbroeck when announcing the winner.

After being named a top three finalist among applicants from all around the globe, the Foster Beelief team ultimately won against two other teams in Mumbai, India and Winnipeg, Canada. World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) and National Office Systems sponsored the nomination of Foster Beelief.

The Foster Beelief team, otherwise known as “The Hive,” is comprised of two women. Sade Shofidiya, a former WTCSav intern and current graduate student at Savannah State University (SSU), is from Chicago, Ill., and serves as the team’s Chief Executive Officer. Foster Beelief’s Chief Logistics Officer Karen Perez is a Fall 2020 intern for WTCSav from Dallas, Texas, and is currently in her fourth year at SSU.

“We're honored to be first place and we look forward to presenting in front of the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly,” said Shofidiya. “This is our time, to be the change the world needs and open doors of opportunity for marginalized groups to learn and engage in sustainable practices. We are one planet, and like the honeybees, we are one hive. We believe in a world of environmental and social justice and we will continue to strive until there is a universal network of caring people that are changing our world for the better.”

“We are so proud of the Foster Beelief team,” said President of National Office Systems and World Trade Centers Association board member Scott Center. “Their project is vitally important, and it is absolutely remarkable how this endeavor tackles so many issues troubling our world today head on. Health, environment, poverty, immune systems, nutrition and urban food deserts are all addressed through the Foster Beelief initiative. National Office Systems hopes to get a hive in the garden of our new showroom!”

Foster Beelief is a double pronged initiative. On one hand, Foster Beelief’s educational outreach program promotes an appreciation for wildlife, sustainable practices and pro-citizen behavior amongst low-income communities. On the other side, the consumable plants from Foster Beelief’s pollinator gardens will function as a food source for both the honeybee and these communities impacted by food deserts, thus fulfilling the social need for healthier food options in marginalized communities while helping to sustain the honeybees.

“On behalf of the World Trade Center Savannah Board of Directors, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Foster Beelief team,” said Chairman of the WTCSav Board John Petrino. “What an honor it is to be recognized among nominees from all around the globe. We are incredibly proud of the time and devotion that these students poured into their project, and we are excited to see where their innovation will take them in the future.”

The Peace Through Trade Competition is a student contest for the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders hosted by WTCAF. Teams are asked to present an original project, product or other innovative idea that “exemplifies and promotes social innovation and sustainability through collaboration, fair trade and ethical business practices.” The project also needed to address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Foster Beelief addressed seven of these goals.

Development Authority, Chamber, Government

Education

Engineering Firms

Thomas & Hutton

Environmental / Energy

Georgia Power

Financial Services

Insurance

Sterling Seacrest Partners

Logistics

Manufacturer

Retail

Floor & Decor

Transportation

Savannah Hilton Head International Airport

The Work We Do Marketing and Events

SEDA Annual Meeting

The Savannah Economic Development Authority’s Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 8 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving Mailers

Twice a year, SEDA connects with site selectors, partners, consultants and companies with a marketing mailer.

Website Redesign

In May 2020, SEDA launched a redesigned website.

Mac Conway Award

In Fall 2020, SEDA was named a recipient of the McKinley "Mac" Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development...

John Coleman

Chairman, Savannah Economic Development Authority
Bonitz of Georgia, Inc.

Hugh "Trip" Tollison

President and CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

John Petrino

Chairman, World Trade Center Savannah
Georgia Ports Authority

Hugh "Trip" Tollison
President and CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

Thank you for taking the time to review Savannah Economic Development Authority’s 2020 Annual Report. We are very fortunate that SEDA was able to have a decent year considering all of the challenges everyone faced throughout the pandemic.

The Savannah Economic Development Authority, World Trade Center Savannah and the Savannah Regional Film Commission were able to get back in the office only 60 days after the pandemic hit. As I write this letter, there are still many institutions that are still working remotely and not back in the office over a year later. I want to thank the staff for being aggressive and getting back to the office so that SEDA could collectively continue its mission: Market and sell the Savannah region so that we can facilitate job and investment growth.

Even though 2020 was a difficult year, one of our most impactful accomplishments was the continued success of what we often refer to as product development – creating industrial sites for future investment and job creation. The Savannah Economic Development Authority has been a significant partner in several projects including Rockingham Industrial Park, Jimmy DeLoach Corridor/Bloomingdale industrial planning, Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center and several smaller industrial sites. Furthermore, we anticipate a huge announcement very soon related to a new, regional mega site for advanced, Original Equipment Manufacturer manufacturing.

We have come a long way in the last five years by adding more industrial properties that are ready to serve an ever-growing industrial base. We will be spending a lot of time in 2021 working on master planning water and sewer activity as well as providing a comprehensive plan to accommodate storm water drainage associated with these large-scale developments. It is also important that we work with our environmental organizations so that they are assured our growth is smart and is sensitive to all of the spectacular environmental assets we cherish throughout the coastal region.

All of this would not be possible without our incredible partners. We sincerely thank our board of directors, municipal/county leaders, our utility partners, our site selectors/consultants and last, but not least, the State of Georgia. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Happy Reading,

Hugh "Trip" Tollison
President and CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

The SEDA Team

The SEDA Board of Directors

The WTCSavannah Board of Directors

The SEDA Staff

The Financials

Independent Auditor’s Report

To the Board of Directors of
Savannah Economic Development Authority

We have audited the consolidated statements of net position of the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) and affiliates, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of revenues, expenses, and changes in fund net position and of cash flows for the years then ended.

The accompanying condensed financial information of SEDA as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is not a presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Reading the condensed financial statements therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial statements of SEDA.

Management’s Responsibility
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

Opinion
In our opinion, the accompanying condensed financial information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the portion of the basic financial statements from which it has been derived.

Other Matters
SEDA has not presented the management’s discussion and analysis that the Governmental Auditing Standards Board has determined is necessary to supplement, although not required to be a part of, the basic financial statements.

Holland, Bromley, Barnhill & Brett, LLP
Savannah, Georgia
May 19, 2021

Expand Collapse

2020 Financial Statement

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Position

December 31

Assets	2020	2019
Total Assets	$66,372,684	$61,202,777
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$21,659,955	$15,178,037
Investments	$24,484,984	$22,301,775
Capital Assets - Net of Accumulated Depreciation	$6,210,612	$5,282,080
Real Property Held for Sale or Development	$11,256,320	$17,016,139
Other	$2,760,813	$1,424,746

Deferred Outflows of Resources	2020	2019

	$1,022,229	$1,109,848

Liabilities	2020	2019
Total Liabilities	$4,204,372	$4,394,582
Current Liabilities	$4,204,372	$4,394,582
Noncurrent Liabilities	$0	$0

Deferred Inflows of Resources	2020	2019

	$52,492	$218,097

Net Position	2020	2019

	$63,138,049	$57,699,946

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Position For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

	2020	2019
Total Net Position - Beginning of the Year	$57,699,946	$37,591,120
Total Net Position - End of the Year	$63,138,049	$57,699,946
Operating Revenues	$8,586,302	$7,902,492
Operating Expenses	($5,432,454)	($7,027,897)
Nonoperating Revenues (Expenses)	$2,284,255	$19,234,231
Net Income	$5,438,103	$20,108,826

2020 By the Numbers

16

Expansions/Announcements

1218

New JobOpportunities

75

New Attraction Projects Worked

$315M

Total Investment

Highlights

Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive

Savannah Logistics Technology Center

Workforce Initiatives

Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center and Product Development

Savannah Area Good Corporate Citizen Project

Plug and Play

Rolls-Royce Customer Support Facility Opens in Savannah

Expansion of Port City Logistics Operations in Chatham County

Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive

Savannah Logistics Technology Center

Workforce Initiatives

Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center and Product Development

Savannah Area Good Corporate Citizen Project

Plug and Play

Savannah Regional Film Commission

WTC Savannah 2020 Year in Review

SEDA Annual Meeting

St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving Mailers

Website Redesign

Mac Conway Award

SEDA Annual Meeting

St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving Mailer

Website Redesign

Mac Conway Award

2020 SEDA Board of Directors

2020 World Trade Center Savannah Board of Directors

The SEDA Staff

Independent Auditor’s Report

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Position

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Position For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

Expansions/
Announcements

New Job
Opportunities

New Attraction
Projects Worked