Savannah Convention Center expansion a priority for state lawmakers

Savannah’s Convention Center expansion and incentives for retired veterans to stay in Georgia were two items presented as legislative priorities by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday at the chamber’s annual Eggs and Issues breakfast.

Held at the Savannah Convention Center, with socially distant tables set for four guests and required mask wearing, the event gave area legislators a chance to respond to the Chamber’s agenda and list some of the legislators’ priorities too.

Derek Mallow, newly elected representative to the Georgia House for District 163, said he was excited to and ready to get to work in Atlanta.

“There are a couple of legislative priorities listed that are very important to me, and that is expanding services from CAT and then local T-SPLOST, because in order for folks and families to get to the jobs that we bring here through our economic opportunities, tax credits and incentives, they (workers) have got to be able to have a way to get there," Mallow said. "And unfortunately, if you've ever rode the bus, it can sometimes take three hours to get somewhere.”

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The legislative priority list includes support of legislation that would allow single counties to hold a referendum for a Transit Special Purpose Local Option Sales tax to fund transit capital, operations and maintenance.

Mallow and Rep. Bill Hitchens, who represents a swaths of western Chatham County and Effingham County in the Georgia House, both said Georgia needs to offer incentives that would encourage veterans to make our state home.

“Every state around us has these tax incentives,” Hitchens said. “Every year when it comes up, there's always something else that needs money. And I have no doubt that will happen during this year, but we're going to push (for it).”

State Sen. Lester Jackson agreed with the chamber and fellow legislators that funding the expansion of the convention center is “imperative.”

The Department of Economic Development’s Board of Directors voted unanimously this summer to sell $70 million in bonds to begin construction of the $210 million project on Hutchinson Island. Savannah officials and the city’s legislative delegation will seek the rest of the funding during the next two years.

This year’s first payment on the project had already been approved by the General Assembly as part of a $1.13 billion fiscal 2021 bond package.

Sen. Jackson was clear on his other priorities.

"We must expand Medicaid," Jackson said. "500,000 more Georgians could be helped."

Jackson also said the minimum wage must be increased.

"We also need to increase the dropout age from 16 to 17 years old," Jackson said. 

State Sen. Ben Watson told the chamber and guests he had taken part in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial and assured everyone that safety guidelines were being followed in its development, including an independent panel of scientists embedded with the vaccine maker.

Watson also said he believes he got the real vaccine, not a placebo.

"I'm pretty sure I did (get the vaccine)," Watson said. "Because the next day I was a little sore, achy all over, my arm hurt at the site, and I had a stiff neck."

State Rep. Ron Stephens thanked a sponsor of the breakfast, Comcast, for extensions to broadband that have proved vital during the pandemic.

 "It became more important than we realized at the time," Stephens said.

Rep. Mickey Stephens, who has been ill for some time, thanked those who had visited him while he was sick.

"I was on my death bed," Mickey Stephens said. "Ron (Stephens) has been a lifesaver, I'm at a loss for words."

2021 State Legislative Agenda from the Savannah area Chamber of Commerce

• Support state funding to complete the much-needed expansion of the Savannah Convention Center
• Support initiatives to attract and retain military veterans and retirees through tax and education incentives that encourage veterans to reside in Georgia and seek employment from Georgia companies.
• Support initiatives to limit the unanticipated large- percentage swings in annual commercial property tax increases and decreases.
• Support the Board of Regents request of $4.5M for campus- wide utility infrastructure improvements to increase efficiency and increase campus security at Savannah State University.
• Support Georgia Southern University’s request for $36.7M in construction funding for a Convocation Center - a multi- purpose complex housing academic space for teaching, research and a mixed-use event venue for large-scale gatherings for the University and surrounding communities
• Support expansion of the state-designated Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor to encompass the following five counties: Chatham, Bulloch, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty.
• Support the Technical College System of Georgia’s Capital Outlay request for $3.5M to fund renovation of Savannah Technical College’s 7 West Bay Street Culinary Arts and Hospitality Training Programs’ expansion
• Support the renewal of Georgia’s historic preservation incentives to encourage investment in the continued rehabilitation of Georgia’s historic structures.
• Support legislation that enhances the film and post- production tax credits while advocating for the continued protection of these credits and their positive economic impact to our state and region.
• Support legislation to allow single counties, by referendum, to utilize the existing Transit Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax statute to adequately fund transit capital, operations and maintenance needs.

KEY PRO-BUSINESS POLICIES & POSITIONS:

• Advocate for State support of the I-95 Airport Interchange (Exit 104) Improvement initiative with the DOT and elected officials
• Advocate for and support legislative initiatives and budgeting to increase funds for capital projects at Georgia’s commercial service airports and Georgia’s general aviation airports.
• Support an increase in budgeted funds for marketing Georgia as a tourism destination in order to increase Georgia’s market share to better compete with other states.
• Support funding and state policies that will have a positive impact on healthcare for the citizens of Georgia and will also focus on assisting the medical community as they continue to successfully battle the current pandemic.
• Support policies that positively impact medical education, increased funding for mental health, access to affordable healthcare throughout the state and adequate funding of Medicaid and the State Health Benefit Plan
• Advocate for legislation, initiatives and funding to support registered and certified training programs such as Apprenticeships, Move On When Ready, Georgia College & Career Academies and other efforts that prepare students for future careers while providing a skilled workforce for the region’s current and future employers
• Support proactive military legislation that seeks to protect and expand Georgia’s military installations and grow this important statewide economic driver.
• Support funding for the replacement of the Bull River/ Lazaretto Creek bridges along Highway 80/State Route 26 corridor to Tybee Island.
• Support the Chatham Area Transit Authority’s request for State funding to expand and enhance water ferry services along Savannah’s growing waterfront
• Advocate for pandemic funding relief by holding school systems harmless for temporary drops in enrollment on FTE reporting during the FY21 year for the purposes of determining the QBE funding allotments for FY22 and FY23.