City of Savannah: Official News, Events & Community Updates
- Mayor Van R. Johnson II praised graduates for investing in themselves and strengthening businesses, saying local entrepreneurial success advances Savannah.
- Launch Savannah offers education, resources, and real-time guidance to help entrepreneurs grow business skills and market readiness.
- Program was developed from the 2020 REAL Task Force recommendations and has assisted 45 local small and minority businesses.
- Graduates received certificates and business services scholarships plus one-year memberships with the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce.
- Each participant was given a new laptop donated by Comcast, announced as a surprise contribution supporting graduate success.
City of Savannah Celebrates Launch Savannah Graduates with Ceremony, Surprise Laptop Donation from Comcast
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Oct. 7, 2026) – The City of Savannah Tuesday held a graduation ceremony for the third cohort of Launch Savannah, a small and minority business accelerator program facilitated by the City’s Economic Development Department.
Fifteen (15) local business owners and entrepreneurs, along with their family and friends, community partners, city officials, and stakeholders, celebrated completion of the 12-week intensive. Launch Savannah helps local entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses and position themselves for continued growth. Participants received education, resources, and real-time guidance in key business development areas, including financial management, marketing and branding, government contracting readiness, and pitch development.
“I am so proud of the graduates of Season 3 of Launch Savannah,” said Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. “We required our participants to invest in themselves, build mutually beneficial relationships, strengthen their businesses, and take meaningful steps toward achieving their dreams. We know when local entrepreneurs succeed, Savannah succeeds. So, their achievements and success are an important part of our city’s future.”
Developed in direct response to the 2020 Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Task Force recommendations for local, small firms within the community, Launch Savannah has assisted 45 local small and minority businesses in the Savannah area.
“In addition to the graduation certificate and award from the City of Savannah, each participant receives a business services scholarship, one-year membership with the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, one-year membership with the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, and a new laptop provided by Comcast,” said MarRonde Lumpkin-Lotson, Economic Development senior director. “We are grateful to our partners for supporting this outstanding group of small business owners.”
The 2026 Launch Savannah graduates are:
- Valarie Grimes, Radiant Again Thrift Shop
- Dolores Smith, Polly’s Thriftique
- Chef Jack Jackson, A Seat at the Table Café
- TeArra Dunham, House of BeauTe & Suites
- Kendalynn Thomas, The Gathering Room
- Jordan Riles, Joy Enterprises
- Alexis Crawford, On the Go Solutions
- Laureen Monica Boles, E4Progress Planning and Engineering
- Michael Wilson, The Monarch
- Wanda Avant, Avant Learning Consultants
- Gloria Johnson, Broadway Training & Events
- Cynthia Perkins, Cynper Enterprises
- Annissa Roland, Stone Collective Consulting
- Monica Daughtry, MPloy Network
- Alexa Frame, Low Country Grit
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ABOUT LAUNCH SAVANNAH
Launch Savannah is a 12-week intensive, in-person program to support up to 15 local entrepreneurs in their early-stage businesses. Business owners accepted into the Launch Savannah Accelerator will expand their acumen in the following focus areas: financial management, marketing/branding, government contracting readiness, and pitch development. Launch Savannah is targeted to propel entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least one (1) year and desire to grow their potential. Visit here to learn more.
Read the full announcement on the official site
