The Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) brought the region’s business community together on December 3 for its Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon at the Savannah Golf Club, celebrating a year defined by momentum, collaboration, and measurable impact. The event highlighted the dedication of SBAC’s volunteers and banking partners while recognizing standout businesses and community partners whose work is fueling small-business success across coastal Georgia.

Across 2025, SBAC delivered 79 small business loans totaling $17.7 million, supporting 214 projects in partnership with area lenders and banks. The organization also secured $8.8 million in new grant funding, expanded its slate of educational programs for entrepreneurs, and awarded 46 business scholarships totaling $98,705.44—continuing its long-standing commitment to building a resilient regional economy.

SBAC honored the following award recipients during the luncheon:

• T. McCoy Cornerstone Award: Amber Cook, HR Administrator, Seimitsu

• Lender of the Year: Steven Jensen, VP, Sr. Business Banker, Ameris Bank

• Micro Business of the Year: Mover Dan Savannah

• Michael Bunn, Sr. Memorial Rising Star Award: Big Bon Bodega

• Tony O’Reilly SBAC Advocate of the Year: Carol Brooks, Sr. Vice President, Ameris Bank

The luncheon also commemorated SBAC’s 35th anniversary, featuring a special anniversary video reflecting on the organization’s evolution and the leadership, partners, and community champions who helped shape its growth over the past three and a half decades.

“Each year, our Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon reminds us why this mission matters,” said Victoria Saxton, President of SBAC. “It’s an opportunity to honor entrepreneurs who strengthen our neighborhoods, recognize the partners who walk alongside us, and celebrate the team whose commitment drives our success.”

For more information about SBAC or to explore the 2025 Annual Report, visit https://sbacsav.com/sbac-2025-annual-report/