seda annual report 2025
seda annual report 2025
2025 was both a time of reflection and a step toward the future as SEDA celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Throughout the year, we honored our history in meaningful ways, beginning with our annual meeting, where historical decals in the lobby highlighted key moments from our past. Additional tributes included a retrospective social media campaign, special celebration events, and commemorative displays throughout SEDA’s office.
Workforce initiatives remained a major focus in 2025. The marketing team supported the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE) across multiple initiatives.
The two-day RISE Job Palooza, which included 124 employers and more than 2,400 job seekers, including more than 300 displaced International Paper employees. The team worked strategically to align our messaging and outreach, resulting in one of the largest job fairs in the region’s history. The marketing efforts led to more than 8,000 unique users visiting the RISESavannah.com job board and more than 78,000 social media impressions.
A new storytelling initiative, Industry Insiders, was implemented in 2025 to connect young professionals with students across the region. Marketing led video production and developed digital content featured on RISE and Succeed in Savannah social media platforms, highlighting real people and real success stories across our region’s industries. RISE even went viral with Effingham’s Kaydence Stearns, who works for Aerodynamic Aviation. Her TikTok story had more than 67,000 views and led to multiple inquiries on job opportunities.
The Succeed in Savannah campaign continued in 2025 with ongoing website enhancements and targeted digital content promoting career opportunities and quality of life in Coastal Georgia. The RISE website also launched giving the team a stronger digital home for sharing workforce resources and telling our region’s story. Marketing also supported SEDA’s participation in Visit Savannah’s Surprisingly Savannah: The Mobile Tour, activating select stops as workforce recruitment locations to promote employment opportunities in Coastal Georgia.
SEDA’s annual mailers reflect the personality of the region itself, thoughtful, polished and distinctly Savannah.
In 2025, the St. Patrick’s Day mailer marked SEDA’s 100-year anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, partners received a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne in recognition of a century of investment, job creation and regional growth. The centennial edition honored Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day tradition while recognizing the businesses and leaders who have shaped the region’s progress.
The Thanksgiving mailer followed later in the year, continuing SEDA’s tradition of thanking the partners who help move the region forward.
Kicking off our 100-year anniversary, SEDA’s 2025 Annual Meeting drew a strong crowd and highlighted the initiatives shaping the region’s continued growth.
The event featured founder of Fans First Entertainment and the Savannah Bananas Jesse Cole, who delivered remarks focused on innovation, leadership and building memorable experiences. And yes, we won’t forget that the morning even included a bit of dancing.
