Monthly Newsletter - February 2026

Graphic to call all entrepreneurs and business owners

financial literacy workshops with sbac

The Economic Development Department has partnered with Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) to bring you financial literacy workshops for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs!

Workshops are scheduled to start in March 2026 and will be hosted both in-person (at the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center) and online. It is strongly recommended that participants attend in-person to network with others in the Savannah business ecosystem.

Interested participants have the opportunity to choose which of the two workshops they would like to attend (see descriptions below):

Business Foundations: From Idea to Income
- This workshop is designed for early-stage entrepreneurs who have a business idea but need clarity on how to implement it. The focus of this workshop will be on core business fundamentals and introducing financial literacy concepts through the lens of execution—helping participants understand how their business plan translates into day-to-day operations.
Growing Your Business by Accessing Capital
- This workshop is designed for entrepreneurs who are already generating revenue and seeking to strengthen their position for funding opportunities. The focus of this workshop will be on evaluating business readiness, understanding capital expectations, and planning responsibly for the use of funds after disbursement.

Registration for these workshops starts on February 3rd and ends on February 20th.

Click here or scan the QR code below to head to our website to learn more and register starting on February 3rd!

recap of january events

In January we connected with the community with our partners through two special events!

Healthy Cooking Class in Partnership with the Quincy and Rose Pullin Foundation

On Saturday, January 10th, food equity advocate Tasha Wei led a thoughtful cooking class where participants prepared two sides, a healthy rainbow sweet and sour slaw, and a root vegetable medley, created with fresh and seasonal produce. After the completion of the class participants took home a brown bag with fresh produce grown by local farmers. The take-home items also included recipe cards from the event as well as kale and cabbage seeds provided by Food Sovereignty Coordinator Ofunmaja from the Harambee House for participants who were interested in planting. Ninoska's Favorites provided catering, as well as educational material and two recipes for a sweet potato hummus and a chimichurri sauce. The event ended with a brief trip to the community garden located at the center, and the opportunity for participants to learn about volunteering or adopting a plot.

Host: Quincy and Rose Pullin Foundation

Partners: ACTion Grant, Harambee House, Forsyth Farmers Market, and the Moses Jackson Advancement Center

Catering: Ninoska's Favorites

Savannah Entrepreneurial Center Annual Open House

On January 13th, the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center hosted its Annual Open House. Community members, aspiring entrepreneurs and local business partners met and mingled to discuss growth and opportunities in Savannah's business ecosystem. Photos from the event can be found below.

Thank you to all of our partners for making these (and all of our events) successful!

GROW Initiative February pop-up

We're excited to announce the first of our health and nutrition pop-up classes with GROW Initiative GA!

The free class will be held on Saturday, February 21st from 10:30AM-12:30PM. Registration is encouraged but not required (see QR code below).

Participants will learn heart healthy habits with a focus on hypertension (high blood pressure). All participants will receive a pedometer, which can be used to track their steps.

If you have any questions about this upcoming class, please contact action@savannahga.gov or info@thegiga.org.

February Nutrition Class Flyer in Spanish

crafting a business pitch

Are you looking to refine your business pitch?

You're in luck! Join us for this in-person only, two-part workshop led by Dr. SallyAnn Gray of Gray Focus Training Solutions. The two-part series will take place on February 3rd at 5:30PM-7:00PM and February 10th at 5:30PM-7:00PM at the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center.

It is highly recommended that participants attend both sessions. Pre-registration is not required. Workshop sessions will only be offered in-person.

This dynamic, hands-on workshop series equips entrepreneurs, professionals, and emerging leaders with the skills to craft a compelling business pitch that captures attention, communicates value, and drives action. Participants will learn how to structure a persuasive message, connect authentically with an audience, and deliver with confidence and clarity. Through guided activities, real-world practice, and actionable feedback, attendees will walk away with a polished pitch they can use immediately in their business or career.

Who It Is For:

Entrepreneurs preparing to pitch to investors or clients
Professionals seeking to communicate ideas more persuasively
Small business owners wanting to sharpen their brand message
Students or emerging leaders interested in leadership communication
Anyone who wants to elevate their public speaking and presentation skills

Please reach out to us - by email economicdevelopment@savannahga.gov or by phone 912-652-3582, if you have any questions about this workshop.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Every month we shine a light on a small business that makes our Savannah community thrive.

February Spotlight: Diaspora Marketplace

As we step into Black History Month, we take time to reflect - especially remembering those who have preceded before us and honor their lives. We celebrate Black achievements, contributions and legacies throughout time. While there are many ways to celebrate Black History Month, one way is supporting a Black-owned business in our beautiful City.

This month's Small Business Spotlight focuses on a family-owned business that has been interwoven into the fabric of our Savannah community and the treasured Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for over 20 years.

Brothers, Richard and Earl Shinhoster, traveled to and from Ghana frequently in the 1990s. In that time, they fell in love with the art and crafts made by artisans in the country. They realized that there was a business opportunity to partner with the local artists and to share these art pieces with friends, family and new customers in America. Diaspora Marketplace turned this vision into a reality and the store opened in Savannah in 2002.

The brothers worked directly with the artists and supported the people in the villages that they visited and continue to do so to this day. Each piece sold is hand-selected and set at a fair price.

After decades of sharing these unique art pieces from Ghana with Savannah, the brothers expanded their inventory to include pieces from Southern Africa, the Caribbean and other places in the African Diaspora.

When you are purchasing an item from Diaspora Marketplace, you are not only bringing home a one-of- a-kind piece, you are also supporting local artists and connecting the African diaspora across the ocean.

Diaspora Marketplace carries a wide range of unique items - including clothing, carvings, musical instruments, home goods, fabric, masks and more. Items are available for purchase online and in-store.

If you would like to visit the store, Diaspora Marketplace is located at 510 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and is open from 10AM-6PM Monday through Saturday. The store is closed on Sundays.

If you would like to highlight one of your favorite small businesses in Savannah, please send us your recommendations! Email us at EconomicDevelopment@Savannahga.gov with the subject line "Small Business Spotlight."

Hand made bird mask from Diaspora Marketplace

february Business Class Schedule

Are you interested in starting or growing your business?

We've got you covered at the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center! Take a look at our class calendar below and join us for any of our FREE educational offerings.

Visit our online class calendar to learn more and register for any of our online classes.

Contact us

If you're an entrepreneur and need assistance with elements of your business, including financial management, business planning or pricing structures -- look no further!

The Savannah Entrepreneurial Center offers FREE technical assistance for entrepreneurs. If you're struggling to figure out a problem related to ownership or operation of your business, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are available to help you!

Phone - 912-652-3582
Email - EconomicDevelopment@Savannahga.gov
Walk-in appointment - 801 E. Gwinnett Street, Savannah GA 31401