Current Projects

· Working with Savannah Tech and Chatham County Public School System to  create/implement marine trades training programs at both high school and technical school levels. Take our trades survey!

 · Establishing the Tom Wright Marine Trades scholarship fund for students, to assist in marine trades training.

· Meeting with state legislators to request sponsorship of amendment to cap sales tax on boat and motor purchases (neighboring states all have such caps).

· Petitioning state legislators to sponsor a Marine Business Owners Protection Act, to resolve issues related to vessels abandoned by owners, unpaid dockage and storage fees, and unpaid service fees. 

· Serves on the Clean Marina Program committee, along with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and the GADNR. The committee is responsible for working with coastal Georgia marinas to achieve Clean Marina certification through a rigorous assessment process. The first round of Georgia Clean Marinas will be certified in the summer of 2023. Visit GeorgiaCleanMarina.org to learn more.

· Researching methods to improve relations with tourism industry

· Monitoring proposed state legislation for impact to the coastal region

· Worked to prevent marina zoning changes in Chatham County

· Worked with the DNR to resolve the abandoned/derelict vessel issue and improve anchorage problems

· Successfully worked to amend Georgia liveaboard laws 

· Successfully lobbied at state and federal levels for funding for ICW dredging

· Successfully lobbied to overturn ad valorem tax for Georgia boat, motor and trailer sales

· Negotiated marina bottom lease rates with the GADNR