COMMUNITY HEADLINES – JANUARY 6, 2025

(SAVANNAH, GA) As Healthy Savannah reflects on the past year, the organization is pleased to share its 2024 Impact Report. This report highlights the incredible strides Healthy Savannah has made in promoting health and wellness across Savannah—thanks to community support, partnership, and dedication to its shared mission.

https://healthysavannah.org/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Colonial Group is proud to announce that Crown Carbon Reduction Technologies has officially joined the Colonial Group family as part of Colonial Chemical Solutions. This strategic merger represents a significant milestone, enhancing the capabilities and resources available to customers across industries. Chemical Solutions combines an extensive product portfolio, a robust logistics network, and a dedication to safety and sustainability to deliver tailored solutions for its customers. For more information, visit colonialchemicals.com.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah and the Chatham County Health Department are partnering to offer a cervical cancer awareness and screening event on January 23rd at the health department clinic at 1395 Eisenhower Drive. Cervical cancer kills thousands of women each year, but many of these deaths can be prevented through vaccination and screening. The event will include door prizes, drawings and opportunities to learn about healthy living. A health clinic will also be available for those who wish to be screened for cervical cancer via pap smear or receive the HPV vaccine.

https://carriagetradepr.com/healthy-savannah-and-chatham-county-health-department-announce-joint-campaign/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Philanthropic Partners (SPP) has awarded $80,000 in grants to two prominent childcare organizations in the area. The grants, which aim to enhance the region’s early childhood education and care services, include a $50,000 award to Kicklighter Academy and a $30,000 grant to Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, Inc.

https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/news/nonprofits/jan-3%e2%80%94-savannah-philanthropic-partners-awards-80-000-grant-to-support-local-childcare/article_e8d0a536-c919-11ef-aab5-0777bdc60de7.html

SAVANNAH, GA – Healthy Savannah is pleased to announce the appointment of Armand Turner as its new executive director, effective January 1, 2025. He takes over the helm from Paula Kreissler, who is retiring after serving the organization for the past 17 years.

https://carriagetradepr.com/armand-turner-appointed-executive-director-of-healthy-savannah-effective-january-1-2025/

(HEALTHYSAVANNAH.ORG) Healthy Savannah is on a mission to identify breastfeeding-friendly workplaces in Savannah. The PUMP Act supports and encourages breastfeeding, which provides essential nutrition for babies and supports the health of families. By promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments, workplaces help normalize this healthier choice and empower parents in their breastfeeding journeys. To honor these champions of health, Healthy Savannah is awarding breastfeeding-friendly workplaces with displayable decals and certificates, proudly showcasing their commitment to supporting employees and creating inclusive spaces. Nominate a business or nonprofit today. Email Healthy Savannah’s breastfeeding strategy manager, Dr. Elsie Smalls, at elsie@healthysavannah.org.

https://mailchi.mp/healthysavannah/celebrating-public-health-8742173-vpopaji97d-17252039?e=2e3e573688

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Entrepreneurial Center invites you to its 2025 Open House

on Tuesday, January 7. This event offers a preview of the Center’s 2025 programming, along with valuable networking opportunities with community partners. Attendees can explore the Center’s resources, learn about upcoming initiatives, and connect with local entrepreneurs and organizations. Join in this inspiring evening to discover how the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center can support you and your business journey. Savannah Entrepreneurial Center is located at 801 East Gwinnett Street. Call 912-652-3582 for more information.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Join the Healthy Savannah team every Tuesday for a #healthy walk or head out to explore a local trail on your own. Join us for a two-mile walk at 8:00 a.m. on January 7 at Laurel Grove North, 1110 May Street, Savannah, GA 31415. Click the link for upcoming weekly walks.

https://healthysavannah.org/healthy-activities/

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Chatham Food Policy Council has identified three top priorities it plans to pursue beginning in 2025 to ensure communities across Chatham County have equitable access to affordable, nutritious, locally and sustainably grown food. The Council has already begun developing a plan that prioritizes areas of greatest need, starting with the development of policy, systems, and environmental change opportunities for community gardening as its first project. The Council is supported by the five-year, $5.1 million (REACH) grant, administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia.

http://www.healthysavannah.org

(SAVANNAH, GA) The 2023 Status Report for the Chatham Community Blueprint, a strategic plan completed in 2015 with a 20-year vision of a thriving future for Chatham County, was issued on December 4, 2024 and reported on 29 key indicators. Some of those indicators:

• Economy: Per Capita Income rose 7.9%.

• Education: The Graduation rate increased 1.5% from the prior school year. SCCPSS also reports that 53.3% of students in grades 9-12 show content mastery.

• Health: The age-adjusted death rate due to suicide decreased by 2.1 deaths per 100,000.

• Quality of Life: Recidivism rates, which is the tendency of a convicted criminal to re-offend, rose both for juveniles and adults, indicating this is an area for increased focus. For adults, the rate was up 8.2% and for juveniles, the rate increased 2% from the last reporting period.

The complete report is available at https://www.coastalgaindicators.org/resourcelibrary/index/view?id=344625010858156822.

For more information on the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, visit https://www.coastalgaindicators.org

https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/news/construction/dec-12%e2%80%94-coastal-georgia-indicators-coalition-releases-2023-status-report-showing-strides-in/article_c57ae578-b687-11ef-9ec7-835d139ace5b.html#tncms-source=LatestHeadlines

(SAVANNAH CEO) Laura Lane McKinnon of Housing Savannah explains why you should care about affordable housing and what you can do to support it.

https://savannahceo.com/video/2024/12/laura-lane-mckinnon-housing-savannah-need-affordable-housing/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Did you know breastfeeding provides a variety of benefits to babies and mothers? Add your input to Healthy Savannah’s breastfeeding landscape evaluation survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HealthySavannah_BFMom

(SAVANNAH, GA) All Things Savannah Exclusive – Danielle Oke and Frank Marro interview Savannah Convention Center General Manager Kelvin Moore about the soon-to-open expanded facility on Hutchinson Island along with a behind-the-scenes tour of the new space.

(NEWSBREAK) Cervical cancer kills thousands of women each year. Stigma and silence are impeding efforts to prevent it.

https://www.newsbreak.com/share/3699523567735-cervical-cancer-kills-thousands-of-women-each-year-stigma-and-silence-are-impeding-efforts-to-prevent-it?f=app_share&pd=06ZoRINe&lang=en_US&send_time=1733402086&trans_data=%7B%22platform%22%3A0%2C%22cv%22%3A%2224.48.0.25%22%2C%22languages%22%3A%22en%22%7D&sep=ns_local_strategy_24q4_exp-v4%2Cns_foryou_recall_exp_24q4-v7%2Cns_foryou_model_exp_24q4-v9%2Cns_foryou_blend_exp_24q4-v8%2Cns_push_exp_rt_bucketv12-v6%2Cns_foryou_rank_exp24q4-v9&s=i4

(SAVANNAH CEO) United Way of the Coastal Empire is proud to announce that the 2025 Women Who Rule event will honor community leader and dedicated United Way supporter Stacy Jennings as the 2025 United Way “Woman of the Year.” The annual luncheon, chaired by Suzanne Kirk of Employee Development Strategies, Inc., will be held Tuesday, March 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Savannah Convention Center.

https://savannahceo.com/features/2024/12/nited-way-announces-2025-woman-year/

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Tribune, one of Georgia’s most enduring and influential newspapers, has announced that it will be celebrating its 150th anniversary on Saturday, Jun. 28, 2025. This monumental milestone honors a legacy of journalistic excellence, community engagement and a deep commitment to serving the people of Savannah and surrounding areas. During this upcoming historical year, in addition to commemorating this milestone, The Savannah Tribune will also celebrate 198 years of the Black Press in America by hosting the National Newspaper Publishers Association Conference in Savannah, June 25-27, 2025.

https://SavannahTribuneBiscuitBrunch2025.eventbrite.com

https://www.savannahtribune.com/celebrate-our-history/

(Savannah, GA) Best Business Brokers, a premier business brokerage and commercial real estate firm in Savannah, is proud to announce that Senior Business Broker Brian Judson has been elected to the 2025 Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB). This significant honor highlights Judson’s expertise and dedication and reflects the outstanding reputation of the Savannah firm in the business community.

https://b3brokers.com/savannah-business-broker-elected-to-georgia-association-of-business-brokers-2025-board-of-directors/

https://gabb.org/gabb-welcomes-new-board-members-for-2025/

(SAVANNAH, GA) In 2024, Savannah Tree Foundation planted 426 trees across 23 sites in Chatham County. The organization gave away 2,874 more across Coastal Georgia, adding 3,300 trees to the urban forest. That’s more than a 150% increase over last year. STF volunteers donated 1,094 hours of their time, also more than doubling 2023’s numbers.

https://savannahtree.org/

(SAVANNAH, GA) The public is invited to an informational Zoom session at noon on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, to learn about an innovative new opportunity: a Virtual Rotary Club launching in February 2025, during Rotary’s Peace Month.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82415026181, Meeting ID: 824 1502 6181

This Virtual Rotary Peace Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Chatham Pooler, will provide a flexible and inclusive way to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about service, community, and global peacebuilding. About the new Virtual Club: Chairperson: Jill

Cardenas will lead the “Rotary Peace Club, a satellite club of Pooler-West Chatham.

Dues: $240 annually ($20/month), Meetings: Twice a month, virtually, with engaging speakers at each meeting. Dates: First Tuesday & Third Tuesday. Rotary Focus Areas: These are the 7 areas where Rotarians provide service and raise funds to make a meaningful impact, locally and globally.

(SAVANNAH, GA) SBAC honors Achievements and Award Recipients at annual holiday luncheon:

BAC’s 2024 award recipients included:

T. McCoy Cornerstone Award – Sandra Collins, Executive Assistant, Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care

Lender of the Year – Abby Goodwin, Vice President of Commercial Banking, Queensborough Bank and Trust Co.

Micro Business of the Year – Be Smart Home Solutions

Michael Bunn, Sr. Memorial Rising Star Award – The British Pie Company

Tony O’Reilly SBAC Advocate of the Year – Marjorie Young, President and CEO, Carriage Trade Public Relations.

https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/news/banking_finance/dec-27%e2%80%94-sbac-honors-achievements-and-award-recipients-at-annual-holiday-luncheon/article_c94c63c2-bef0-11ef-a493-e7e353844991.html

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah-based Colonial Terminals (CTI), an industry leader in the handling and storage of liquid and dry bulk products, has announced that Robert Neumann has been named vice president of sales and marketing. Colonial Terminals owns and operates the largest independent liquid and dry bulk storage facilities with breakbulk capability in the Southeastern United States. Colonial Terminals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colonial Group, Inc. Learn more at www.colonialterminals.com

(BLUFFTON, SC) Libraries for Kids, Intl., will host a special author event from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, at The Roasting Room in Bluffton, South Carolina, Meet Arthur V. Martin, Ph.D., author of From Jellybeans to a Nobel Prize Nomination. The free event is part of the Libraries for Kids, International author series, with a suggested $5 donation. Seating is limited to 36 on padded benches and 16 on barstools; RSVP by calling or texting Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or emailing tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org. An optional Dutch treat lunch with a special menu will follow.

(SAVANNAH, GA) On Saturday, January 11, bring your Christmas tree to the STF Tree Nursery to tree-cycle it into mulch for future plantings. Sav-A-Tree will be on-site with their chipper, giving you an eco-friendly way to dispose of your tree. Even if you don’t have a tree, swing by for a nursery open house. January is the perfect (cool and non-buggy) time to come check out STF’s grounds and learn how you can get more involved in the new year. Hours for drop-in/drop-off are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The STF nursery is located at the Seapoint Industrial Complex off East President Street.

https://savannahtree.org

(CARRIAGE TRADE PR) Sign up here for free: https://carriagetradepr.com/carriage-trade-public-relations-newswire/