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In recent years, city officials have been clamoring for an expansion. The goal of this major undertaking is to significantly increase the size of the convention center, which will pave the way for even more memorable events. Early in March of 2021, state officials gave final approval to begin this long-awaited expansion.

What Does the Expansion Include?

With construction already underway, the expansion will add a 100,000 square foot exhibit hall to the already huge complex. The project involves an exclusive contract with Clark Construction, a Georgia-based company.

The project is valued at roughly $271 million. That includes roughly $70 million in funds already granted by the state. In order to reach the total funding goal, Savannah will require an additional $91 million during the current legislative session. They will also need $90 million in 2022.

In addition to the primary exhibit hall, the expansion will also include a 40,000 square foot ballroom. The center will benefit from 15 new meeting rooms and nearly 1,000 additional parking spaces.

A hotel will be constructed to the west of the convention center. However, that will be completed using private funds and the project will not receive any money from the state.

According to one of the board members, several recurring vendors and customers that use the hall have told them that an expansion is past due. He further explained that they mentioned having to move their conventions to other cities that could accommodate a larger crowd.

Fortunately for Savannah, the expansion is happening. That means that those conventions and the thousands of dollars in revenue that they bring will be staying put.

Not only do convention center guests pay big bucks to use the facility, but they attract huge crowds, too. This means that local hotels, restaurants, and other service industries can reap the benefits from this expansion. Drawing in steady revenue is especially important post-pandemic.

When Will It Be Completed?

As long as there are no funding delays or resurgences in COVID-19 shutdowns, the convention center will be completed relatively quickly. The projected completion date is in September of 2023. Of course, any project of this size can experience setbacks for any number of reasons.

Once it is finished, the Savannah Convention Center will be ranked as the 72^nd largest in the nation. Currently, it sits at 151^st. The expo halls alone will total 200,000 square feet. That type of drastic increase in size is sure to draw a large crowd and attract new businesses.

For context, the largest convention center in the United States is McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, coming in at 2.6 million square feet.

What Does This Mean for Contractors?

Any major construction project will include the use of contractors and sub-contractors. This expansion in particular will result in jobs for dozens contractors throughout the Savannah area. This includes everything from general commercial contracting work to specialized electrical and HVAC services.

As in most other states, Georgia requires up-to-date contractor’s licensing for individuals and companies to be able to participate in major construction projects. Having the right license can afford you the opportunity to get involved in this massive contract and get back to work.

Whether you are looking to obtain your license or simply need to complete the renewal process, RocketCert can help! We offer hundreds of online courses and are an approved vendor for the state of Georgia.

Our fully virtual test prep and educational classes are user-friendly and affordable. In fact, we guarantee the best prices for contractor’s license courses and offer a “No Pass, No Pay” promise. If you find a lower cost on any of our classes, we will beat it by 20%.