ELIOT VANOTTEREN
1% PARTNER A
We Are the Village
s the saying goes, it takes a village. Local businesses in our village have come together to help preserve the character and charm of St. Simons Island in partnership with St. Simons Land Trust’s 1% for St. Simons voluntary giving program. The program is turning pennies into protected acres. For example, if your bill comes to $20, a voluntary 1% (0.20) donation is added. Proceeds from the program are used by the land trust for land acquisition, land management, education and outreach, public access to waterways and wilderness preserves, and to ensure the protection and preservation of historic properties forever. The 1% for St. Simons program is a diverse 46
ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
and growing partnership of more than 30 participating businesses from restaurants like Certified Burgers and Beverage, graphic design services such as Commonground Creative, and locally-owned hospitality and lodging businesses such as Village Inn and Pub.
Commonground Creative Commonground Creative, owned and operated by St. Simons Island native Clay Caldwell, provides graphic design and branding that expertly clarifies each client’s mission and unique offerings to the community. Clay refers to this as “finding Commonground” with island residents and visitors. He serves local mainstays like Fuse, Coastal Georgia Histori-
cal Society, and the St. Simons Land Trust from his office in Aviator Plaza. “I grew up with the natural beauty and easy pace of St. Simons,” he says. “That’s something I want to preserve for my children and grandchildren. Joining the Land Trust’s 1% program made perfect sense.” Commonground has been a member of the 1% program since it partnered with the Land Trust in 2018. Clay notes that his company and the St. Simons Land Trust were born of the same love for the local area and culture. “We both want to maintain the character of St. Simons. The Land Trust’s goal is to preserve the natural beauty
