Industry-heavy Port Wentworth seeks more restaurants, retail

City OKs commercial development consultant contract lasting 3 years.

The city of Port Wentworth has begun laying the groundwork for more commercial services such as restaurants and retail — resources that residents say are sorely lacking in the industry-heavy municipality.

City Council unanimously approved a three-year contract with commercial development consultants Nextsite during a recent council meeting. Mayor Gary Norton and council member Glenn Jones were not present due to scheduling conflicts. Council member Mark Stephens participated virtually.

According to City Manager Steve Davis, Nextsite has a good track record of attract

ing commercial development to surrounding municipalities. The company provides market analysis for cities and connects the appropriate commercial resources that it identifies throughout markets across the U.S.

“They’re very empirically data driven ... they can help figure out what’s happening and why people aren’t staying here,” said Davis.

Davis also mentioned that contracting with Nextsite would be less expensive than hiring an economic development director to join the city staff. Nextsite’s services will cost about $15,000 per year.

The company will work collaboratively with the city’s Chamber of Commerce, which renewed its contract with Port Wentworth earlier this year after an 18-month hiatus. The tourism and marketing branch of the city works directly with local businesses. Nextsite would enhance those efforts at drawing both visitors and residents to the city.

“They go hand in hand,” said Davis.

Residents have routinely complained about the lack of commercial businesses in Port Wentworth and how they have to travel to neighboring municipalities for basic services such as car repair, doctors appointments and sit-down restaurants.

Port Wentworth resident Trevor Ferguson spoke up during the public comment period to urge the city to bring in more of those resources and amenities.

“Please put something down here that we have to go to Pooler to get right now,” said Ferguson, “If I want to take my mom or fiancée out to dinner, I can’t even get it in Port Wentworth.”

According to District 1 council member Gabby Nelson, Port Wentworth only has a few restaurants that aren’t fast food chains.

“We need to bring in something besides fast food, gas stations and warehouses,” said Nelson. “There’s nothing that you can truly nourish your family off of.”

Nelson also pointed out the lack of medical services in the city. The closest urgent care facilities are in Rincon and Pooler. Increasing traffic has made it harder to reach those locales over the years as well.

“We have 13,000 people and not one urgent care center,” said Nelson.

SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS Port Wentworth residents have griped about its lack of commercial businesses and how they must go elsewhere for services such as car repair, doctors and sit-down restaurants.