The Anchor Podcast
Department of Economic Development
The Anchor
A Port Wentworth Podcast from the Department of Economic Development
Port Wentworth is changing fast, and you can see it every time you drive across town. The Anchor is where the City explains what you are seeing: what is being built, why it was planned that way, and what it means for the people who already call Port Wentworth home.
Why "The Anchor"
Anchor Park was built to do more than give residents a place to go. It anchors the region, drawing visitors from across Georgia and neighboring states, and the dollars they spend help pay for city services residents would otherwise be taxed for.
The podcast does the same job for the city's story. When growth moves this quickly, conversations about it drift, and rumors fill the gaps. The Anchor holds the story in place with the people who are planning it, the numbers behind it, and an honest look at what it asks of the community.
What the Show Is Really About
Nothing here starts with a bulldozer. Every project begins with years of committee work, engineering, water and infrastructure studies, and adopted plans like the Downtown Vision Plan, the Highway 21 Streetscape, and the Anchor Trail. We walk you through that work so the changes make sense.
A lot of what circulates online about the city is incomplete or wrong. We take on the questions people actually ask, like how the City balanced its FY27 budget without raising the millage rate, and answer them directly.
Change is uncomfortable for everyone, whether you have been here thirty years or thirty days. The Anchor speaks to longtime residents and new neighbors alike, honoring what Port Wentworth has been while being clear about where it is headed.
Economic development is more than recruiting jobs. It works hand in hand with every City department. A concert at VyStar Pavilion fills hotel rooms, hotel taxes ease the burden on residents, and visitors become reasons for restaurants and shops to invest here. We connect those dots.
Latest Episode
Seven months into her first term, Mayor Saunders sits down with James Touchton to talk about the moment residents chose a new direction, and what growing up as a city really feels like. In this episode:
- Why the FY27 budget is balanced with no millage increase, and why rising home values are a sign of strength
- Why the Mayor compares Port Wentworth to a teenager: awkward, growing fast, and headed somewhere worth being proud of
- The years of planning that happen before any project breaks ground
- How Anchor Park, VyStar Pavilion, and the Ice Cove give residents things to do and help keep taxes down
Coming next, Episode 2: Six Months of Momentum. James walks through his office's report on January through August 2026 and explains why Port Wentworth can finally describe itself in the past tense.
What Should We Explain Next?
Heard something about a project and want the real story? Know a neighbor, business owner, or partner who should be on the show? Tell us.
Suggest a Topic or GuestStay Up-To-Date
