Where Small Town Charm Meets Big City Vision

How a Tennessee riverside town of 7,200 residents transforms into a thriving hub of 25,000 by leveraging tourism, events, and smart development.

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River, Savannah presents a compelling blend of small-town charm and metropolitan amenities that draw visitors from across multiple states. With a resident population of 7,200 that swells to an impressive 25,000 during peak periods, this vibrant community serves as an economic epicenter for the region. City Manager Blake Walley and Economic Development Director Timbo White are part of the leadership steering Savannah’s growth trajectory.

“We’re a small town with a big city feel, a tourist destination for the surrounding region,” says Walley. “We’re about 45 minutes from many other cities of substantial size, which allows us to be an economic, retail, and commercial workplace hub for those cities and rural communities around us.” This strategic location along Highway 64, which stretches across Tennessee, positions Savannah as a crucial commercial nexus.

The city’s retail infrastructure includes major retailers like Lowe’s, Walmart, and Kroger, drawing shoppers from surrounding communities that lack such amenities. This robust commercial presence, combined with excellent schools and expanding recreational facilities, creates an attractive environment for residents and visitors. “Our location makes us unique,” Walley explains. “Being on the river and the lake brings in multi-state tourism, while our position between existing marinas creates opportunities for growth in the aquatic sector.”

How Tourism Drives Savannah’s EconomyTourism is the backbone of Savannah’s economic vitality, with visitor traffic driving development across multiple sectors. “Tourism is really our driving force,” White explains. “If we can bring more people into town and have something going on, it ups our traffic count numbers and puts retail, restaurant, and commercial interest in Savannah.” This strategic approach transforms a city of 7,200 residents into a bustling hub that accommodates up to 25,000 people during peak periods.

This tourism-centric approach has yielded significant results in infrastructure development. “It’s brought us the marina, the hotel that’s coming up down by the river, and the amphitheater project,” says White. “We have all these events waiting for somewhere to go and all these people coming into town waiting for somewhere to stay.” The city currently loses some overnight visitors to neighboring areas, a situation that new developments aim to address.

White emphasizes tourism’s role in shaping economic development strategy: “In my list of priorities – retail, restaurant, commercial, large event – the large event really comes before the others. Our tourism is our driving force, and what we have to work with at this point in time.” This focus on events and attractions continues to attract commercial interest, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and development that benefits both visitors and residents.

Main Street Programs and Historic PreservationSavannah’s downtown district pulses with activity, supported by a robust Main Street program that extends beyond traditional business support. The initiative encompasses larger community events while supporting economic development throughout the historic district. “Our Main Street program supports downtown historic district businesses primarily, but we branch off further to assist all businesses,” Walley notes.

The city’s focus on preserving its architectural heritage while enhancing accessibility is evident in its ongoing development efforts. “We apply for facade grants annually, or as often as we’re allowed based on previous awards and job completion,” says Walley. “That’s allowed us to keep downtown looking good. There are no empty storefronts.” This proactive approach to maintaining the district’s character pays dividends in sustained business occupancy and visitor appeal.

Currently, Savannah is advancing its pedestrian-friendly initiatives through a multimodal grant program. “We’re working on sidewalk improvement grants right now for crosswalks and walkability,” explains Walley. The focus on infrastructure improvements complements the historic preservation efforts, creating an inviting downtown environment that serves both residents and the growing tourist population. This balanced approach to urban development maintains the district’s historic charm while adapting to modern needs.

Infrastructure Investments for the FutureSavannah maintains an extensive utility network that reaches well beyond its city limits. “We serve water, sewer, and gas as our main utilities,” explains Walley. “We serve water and gas to over half the county outside the city limits, and sewer to our industrial park and city residents.” This infrastructure requires substantial ongoing investment, with millions allocated to underground improvements that, while invisible to residents, prove essential for community growth and future development.

Recent federal funding has accelerated these improvements. “We’ve luckily taken advantage of ARPA funds, the COVID monies that the federal government pumped out to states,” Walley notes. “We’ve worked with our engineers and grant facilitators to pinpoint our critical utility infrastructure areas and pump literally millions of dollars into maintaining and upgrading our system to support our population.”

The city’s infrastructure vision includes technological advancement, particularly in addressing rural connectivity challenges. “Not everybody has good internet, and that’s hard to believe,” says Walley. While Savannah proper enjoys Charter Spectrum internet service, the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative has secured grants to implement countywide fiber optic internet, bridging the digital divide for rural residents and enhancing connectivity throughout the region.

A pioneering $1.3 million project in partnership with Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative and Path Company will transform the city’s lighting infrastructure. “We’re converting all of our streetlights to LED to save on energy and beautify the town,” Walley explains. “Our main downtown thoroughfares will be lit up brighter than the surrounding neighborhoods, reducing light pollution while providing better safety at key intersections.” Such a comprehensive approach to infrastructure modernization positions Savannah for sustainable growth while enhancing quality of life for current and future residents.

Marina Development and Hotel ComplexThe city’s ambitious marina project, 15 years in the making, promises to revolutionize Savannah’s waterfront presence. “We’re on the banks of the Tennessee River, and tourism is huge because of this natural asset,” Walley explains. “We do have a boat ramp, but we don’t have a place to dock your boat or fuel your boat outside of a typical gas station.” The strategic importance of this project is magnified by Savannah’s location – a 45-mile gap exists between existing marinas north and south on the river.

After years of planning, the city has purchased 99 acres on the river and partnered with engineers and architects to design the marina. Working closely with TVA through the permitting process, construction is expected to begin within a year. “The whole riverfront project is more than just a marina,” says Walley. “It’s a riverfront park, storage locations, and you’re seeing spinoff business come from that. People are seeing the investment we’re making and jumping on board.”

One such investor is Tim Hunt of Hunt Contracting, who is developing Savannah’s first hotel – a sophisticated four-story, 82-room establishment overlooking the river. The development plans include a conference center and restaurant, plus an infinity-style pool with a swim-up bar. Through collaboration with the Industrial Development Authority, the city and county have structured tax incentives to support this transformative project.

The development’s ripple effects are already apparent. “People are selling their old property around it,” Walley notes. “Business owners are saying, ‘I’m probably going to sell this business and open something nicer to help cater to what’s coming.'” The project also includes plans for an indoor/outdoor amphitheater, supported by a tourism enhancement grant. White adds, “Geographically, that’s the best room to grow. If we can push traffic down Pickwick Road to events happening down there, that’s where we have the most developable land for new businesses coming into town.”

Events and EntertainmentSavannah’s calendar has four signature events that showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage across every season. The spring kicks off with a unique World War II reenactment called “Salute to the Forties.” “The streets are filled with reenactors that do two different spots for that reenactment during the day,” White explains. “The rest of the time we have craft vendors, period vendors, and food trucks in the street. We only have two restaurants downtown, so the addition of those food trucks brings more people to see what we’re having to offer food wise.”

Summer ushers in the city’s renowned Bluegrass Festival, now entering its 47th year. The event draws music enthusiasts from across the region and features a resident champion fiddler who once toured with Bill Monroe. The festival attracts a distinct demographic, complemented by food trucks and craft vendors that create a complete entertainment experience.

Fall brings the highlight of Savannah’s event calendar – RiverFest, a three-day music extravaganza that incorporates multiple attractions. “There’s a Miss Tennessee qualifier Catfish Derby pageant, a 5K run, a Bill Dance signature catfish derby fishing tournament, and three days of music,” says White. The entertainment rotates between Tennessee Street Park and Main Street, creating a citywide celebration. The holiday season concludes the year with Christmas on Main, running the first three weekends of December.

These events do more than entertain – they generate crucial funding for community initiatives. RiverFest, born from a Chamber leadership class project, channels its proceeds back into the community through four scholarships for graduating seniors and disaster relief efforts. “Being on the river, it does flood quite often, and we’re in tornado alley,” White notes. The event also supports local nonprofits and accepts applications for community funding, with a board reviewing and allocating resources based on local needs.

Parks, Recreation and Quality of LifeIn Savannah, quality of life isn’t just a catchphrase – it’s a governing philosophy that drives decision-making. “I’ve always had a mindset of trying to create a low cost of living with a great quality of life,” Walley explains. “Through grants and other means that keep the financial burden down on the city, we haven’t had to raise taxes in 13-14 years, yet we’re growing, and revenue increases year after year because people keep coming here and spending their money.”

The city’s expanding parks and recreation system exemplifies this approach. A newly completed soccer complex enhances sports facilities for residents, while plans advance for phase two of an ambitious Sportsplex development. “We’re working towards starting phase two of our Sportsplex, which is a 70-acre area for baseball and softball fields,” says Walley. These recreational amenities serve both local families and attract regional sporting events.

For Walley, successful community development stems from genuine investment in residents’ well-being. “It’s one thing to come in and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to do all these big projects for your community, it’s going to cost some money,’ but what is the end goal? What kind of quality of life can you give to your residents?” he reflects. “Once they see that, it’s a lot easier to get things done because they’re pushing behind you and on board with you as well.”

This people-first philosophy shapes Savannah’s approach to growth and development. “We just have to give them something to believe in here,” Walley notes. The strategy appears to be working – the city consistently delivers on its promises, turning plans into reality. As Walley puts it, “You’ll continue to see us come up with grand ideas that we actually work towards. We don’t just talk about it. We work towards getting it done.”

AT A GLANCE

Name: City of Savannah

What: A regional economic and tourism hub that serves as a commercial center for surrounding communities while maintaining its small-town character

Where: Tennessee

Website: https://cityofsavannah.org/