SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Coastal Area District Development Authority (CADDA), a nonprofit small business lender based in Savannah and Brunswick, has been honored with an official resolution by the Georgia Senate recognizing its 50th anniversary and five decades of driving economic growth across the region.
On March 25, 2026, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Senator Mike Hodges recognized CADDA on the Georgia Senate Floor, acknowledging the organization’s longstanding commitment to connecting entrepreneurs with capital to empower their growth. The resolution marks a significant milestone in CADDA’s 50th anniversary year, a yearlong celebration honoring the partners, lenders and community leaders who have shaped its legacy.
“Being recognized by the Georgia Senate is a humbling reminder of how far we have come and how many people have contributed to this work over the past 50 years,” said Terry Louk, CADDA Chief Executive Officer. “This recognition reflects the strength of the small businesses and communities we have had the privilege of serving for five decades, as well as the partners who have stood beside us every step of the way.”
Since its inception in 1976, CADDA has funded more than 1,340 companies with $526 million in loans across Georgia, North Florida and the Low Country of South Carolina. The organization has also expanded over the years from administering a single federal grant to becoming a self-sufficient nonprofit offering a full suite of SBA and regional loan programs, gaining full local control of its lending portfolio through defederalization in 2024.
A printed copy of the resolution will be on display at CADDA’s 36th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Sapelo Hammock Golf Club in Shellman Bluff, Ga. The event, sponsored by The Ligon Firm, Georgia Power and Golf Club Realty, brings together lenders, business leaders and community partners for a day of golf, networking and celebration. Registration and details are available at www.cadda-sba.org/#golf.
To watch the resolution read on the Georgia Senate Floor, visit www.cadda-sba.org/news-and-events/#resolution.