About Us
WELCOME GEORGETOWN BUSINESS PARTNERS!
The Georgetown Business Association invites you to join our association.
Please take a moment to read our mission statement and click here to view the membership application.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Georgetown Business Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization. The purpose of the GBA is to encourage the economic development and revitalization of the City of Georgetown and to provide a forum for members to share knowledge, best practices and vital information that can positively impact the success of all local businesses.
Meeting Minutes
Every 1st Tuesday
Starting at 5:30pm
Board Members
Kathryn Kossove
Andrea Johnson
Vanessa Greene
Kim Leatherwood
Susan Brennen
Happy Wilcox
Board of Directors
President - Jack McManus
Vice President - Tamela Walter
Secretary - Jane Klopp
Treasurer - Nick Robinson
Events/MIP Chair - Michael Caldwell
Grant Writer - Pam Toemmes
Economic Development Chair - Greg Metcalfe
ABOUT THE GBA
Our Goal is to promote the City of Georgetown as a destination for visitors, and support initiatives that will benefit new and existing businesses. By partnering with public and private entities we hope to assist in attracting business investment, renovate existing structures, visually improve business districts, buildings, corridors and preserve historic business structures. We will work to accomplish this while building upon the historic character that is the basis for our quality of life and marketplace appeal. The GBA sees itself as a catalyst organization committed to encouraging long-term economic development, the preservation of the historic character of the community and committed to public and private partnerships in order to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in Georgetown. We believe the City of Georgetown may be the “best kept secret” in South Carolina and we are committed to maximizing the City as a tourist destination, as well as a community where private sector jobs are maintained and created for local citizens.
To that end, the GBA raised the necessary resources to retain the Clemson Institute for Community and Economic Development which would provide the entire community with an economic analysis of our strengths and weaknesses and to address critical architectural and related topics including landscaping, the streetscape, gateways to the historic district and signage, both around and in the historic downtown. With the assistance of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, the City Government and many private donations, we retained the Clemson Institute. The result of that Bridge2Bridge initiative was the Charrette process that produced a 5-year set of objectives to be accomplished.
Next the GBA focused on our harbor. We formed, in cooperation with the City Council, a task force to address all the issues confronting this significant gateway to our community including abandoned boats, illegal moorings and other related subjects. This Task Force worked long and hard. They studied the best practices of other harbors from Maine to Florida. The results of their effort have now been officially forwarded to the City Government in Georgetown for action.
The most recent GBA initiative has been to address the vibrancy of our City core of business located on Front Street. Based on the realities of economic development in states, counties and cities across the nation, we have suggested, along with the Georgetown County Chamber that the City Government develop a set of incentives that would have as their objective the continued economic viability of our existing businesses, as well as create an opportunity for new businesses to fill the empty store fronts in this vital corridor of our community. The market study as a part of the Charrette specifically identified the types of businesses that could exist successfully in our downtown.
The devastating Front Street fire on September 25, 2013 became a rallying cry for everyone to work together to promote our city. A strategy for the holiday season was designed and implemented by the GBA with excellent results. More recently, a strategy to promote business in Georgetown was developed with nine major initiatives for the months of April through October 2014. The successful holiday season programs will be replicated in November and December 2014 to sustain the positive momentum.
We encourage both citizens and individual businesses to join us in our efforts as we move forward. Please log on to the GBA website for membership information.