Senoia’s new downtown development coordinator has hit the ground running. Stephanie Savage may be new to the job, but she is not new to Senoia or to business development.

Savage served for 15 years as business development manger with Select Medical Corp. at the company’s six area facilities, traveling daily between south metro Atlanta and Columbus. She lived in Senoia from 1989-1992, then moved to Peachtree City. Savage returned to Senoia in 2000, where she has served on committees geared to economic development.

“I have a professional investment and a personal investment in Senoia. And I’m an avid volunteer,” Savage said Wednesday. “From a personal perspective, I live here and I love it here and I saw potential for Senoia in the long-term. From the professional perspective, I’d like to take it to the next level of the Better Hometown status. We’re applying for that now.”

Regardless her experience, Savage said she is on a big learning curve. But that curve is tempered with her ongoing knowledge of many of the city’s merchants during her years in Senoia.

“And I’m up for the challenge,” Savage said smiling.

Elaborating on that challenge, Savage said it includes four components. The first is community awareness.

“It involves making people aware of the importance of investing in the community by spending with local merchants,” she said.

The second component is revitalization, which depends significantly on volunteers, said Savage. Many in communities across America believe that revitalization efforts stem solely from economic development strategies initiated and directed by staff as they seek out new business. But it is more than that, Savage said.

“Revitalization takes lots of ideas from lots of people,” she explained. “The Downtown Development Authority has town hall meetings to get those ideas. And we get ideas from people bringing lots of gifts and talents. And it’s important to share those.”

The third component of the challenge she sees is that of business recruitment. Savage envisions Senoia as a community that many strive to become, that even fewer attempt and not nearly as many attain with quality development.

“My goal is for Senoia to be self-sustaining, to provide all the necessities to live without going outside and spending elsewhere,” she said.

The final component of the challenge is volunteer recruitment. Melding with the first component, Savage asked that anyone wanting to be involved bring their time and their talents and call her.

Reflecting on her transition from her long-time business endeavors to serving as Downtown Development Coordinator, Savage said it was the right opportunity at the right time.

“It was time for a change,” Savage said. “And I always had an investment in Senoia as a volunteer and a committee member and I felt like I could make a difference.”

Also speaking Wednesday, Downtown Development Authority Chairman Suzanne Helfman said the choice of Savage for the position was a beneficial move for the city.

“We felt like Stephanie would be a tremendous asset for the city,” Helfman said. “She’ll be the face of Senoia.”

The Senoia Downtown Development Office is housed with the Senoia Welcome Center, located at 9 Main Street. The center is now open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Savage can be contacted at (770) 599-8240 or at ssavage@senoia.com

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