2nd Quarter 2009

Economic indicators in the Savannah and Coastal South Carolina areas in 2009 have sufffered as most areas have but the diverse employment base has kept the down turn to a moderate level.  New home construction has begun to rebound slowly. New retail and office construction mainly in western Chatham, and southern Beaufort and Jasper Counties continues to find nich markets. Tourism has been steady.

Industrial expansion continues mainly due to the success of the Georgia Port Authority. The Savannah Area's unemployment rate is higher than it was 2 years ago but continued solicitation by the economic developers, the municipalities and counties and the state governments will minimise the impact of the slow down.