| Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce |
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Swainsboro Bypass Project set to bid
The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce has received authorization to seek bids for the construction of signage on the Swainsboro Bypass. The project was initiated by the Chamber through the City of Swainsboro in 2007 as part the Georgia DOT Transportation Enhancement (TE) Projects.
In February, 2008, the project was approved for TE grant funding. Since that time, the chamber has worked to complete the various elements of grant requirements which include historic review, archaeological assessment, environmental validation, design standard, and other criteria.
Construction plans were approved on September 1st. DOT has now authorized the bid process to begin. Bids will be advertised for two consecutive weeks in the county legal organ beginning January 3rd. Buckley and Associates will serve as architects for the project.
"We are very excited to have reached this stage of the project," stated Bill Rogers Jr., chamber president. "Hopefully, we can begin construction shortly and complete this project by late spring.
Assisting with the project are Al Lawson, City Administrator, Angie Cooper, DOT Area Engineer; Jerry Brinson, Highway Engineer, Moreland-Altobelli Associates; and Ken Warnock, Vice President, James W. Buckley & Associates, architects. |
2012 Pine Tree Festival dates announced, new director named
 The Pine Tree Festival Board & Southeast Timber EXPO Board of Directors have announced the dates for the 2012 Pine Tree Festival.
The two-week event will begin on April 28th and conclude on May 9th. Many exciting changes are underway including moving the festival back to the downtown area. A complete lineup of shows, events, and happenings will be announced in coming months.
The board also announced Jen Meadows has been named as director for the 2012 festival event. "With experience in local festival planning and as director of Emanuel Arts Center Director, Jen brings a great deal of experience and expertise to our event. We look forward to working with her as we grow the Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber EXPO," stated Athen Walden, board chairman. |
Economic Outlook Luncheon is planned for January 8
The Annual Rural Georgia Economic Outlook 2012 Luncheon, sponsored by UGA Terry College of Business, will be held at East Georgia College on Monday, January 9. This marks the 14th year the event has been held in Swainsboro.
Jeff L. Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, will present his forecast for rural Georgia. The event will be held in the Richard L. Brown Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tickets can now be reserved by calling East Georgia College at 478-289-2037. |
Vision Series announces Lili Bogdanova concert
Only 18 years of age, Lili Bogdanova has played numerous concerts for thousands of people across the world for the last several years. From Bulgaria, the pianist will perform at East Georgia College on January 24th as part of the 2011-2012 Vision Series. The concert will be held in the Luck Gambrell Center Auditorium starting at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for admission. |
Flat Creek Lodge featured on Georgia Public TV
 A Georgia Public Television film crew was at Flat Creek Lodge on December 14th & 15th to film an upcoming episode for The Georgia Traveler. The show is expected to air in January or early February according to Cathy McDaniel, Resort Manager. The show is considered one of GPTV's most popular shows, highlighting many of the state's favorite tourism spots.
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Chamber sponsors "Emanuel Christmas Gifts"
The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce helped promote local businesses and American-made goods this holiday season by promoting Christmas gifts local retailers offer that are made in America.
"ABC News reported that the average American spent an estimated $704 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion, according to National Retail Federation estimates," a Chamber representative stated. "If that money was spent entirely on US-made products, it would create 4.6 million jobs. However, it doesn't have to be that big. If each of us spent just $64 on American-made goods during our holiday shopping, the result would be 200,000 new jobs."
The local chamber compiled a list of "Emanuel Christmas Gifts Made in the U.S.A." encouraging citizens to purchase items that are made in America from local stores. The list appears on the "Emanuel Christmas Gifts Made in the U.S.A." page on the Chamber's website at www.emanuelchamber.org.
"Our efforts to promote local businesses and products made in the USA this Christmas season were well received. We are making plans now for Christmas 2012 and hope many more businesses participate," added Shanna Taylor, Chamber coordinator for the event. |
Chamber elections are announced
The election of officers was the highlight of the December meeting of the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Athen Walden will serve as board chairman for 2011-2012. Jim Harrell was elected secretary with Peyton Frye selected treasurer of the local group. Russ Youmans was elected chairman-elect for 2013-2014.
Elected earlier in the year were Clay Hall, Deanna Moore, Mitchell Fagler, and Peyton Frye.
Other members of the 2011-12 Chamber board include Jill Harvey, Desse Davis, Dr. Bobby Sasser, Charles Schwabe, Kenny Griffin. |
Photo Contest Winner Announced
The "Emanuel in Pictures" photo contest winner is Karen Aycock of Twin City. She will receive $25.00 for her winning entry. "Ms. Aycock's interpretation of 'Fall Time in Emanuel County' was perfectly depicted in her photo entry of George L. Smith's Parrish Mill on a foggy October morning," stated Shanna Taylor, photo contest chair. The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the photo contest in an effort to document all Emanuel County has to offer for the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Camera Ready program.
An honorable mention was given to Mrs. Shirley Price of Swainsboro for her photo entry of deserted buildings in Nunez.
"We would like to extend our appreciation to all the participants in the photo contest. It is our hope that with our growing archive of photographs, we will be able to get the attention of Film Companies and be selected for a motion picture or documentary," stated Bill Rogers Jr. Emanuel County was designated as camera-ready by the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment office in a special ceremony in Atlanta on October 7, 2010. Georgia's film and television industry is thriving with Georgia being ranked number one in the Southeast, and among the top five states in the nation for film and TV productions. |
Beta Sigma Phi & Chamber to co-host BAH
The Kappa Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce are co-hosting a "Death by Chocolate/Business After Hours"event. Put that New Year's Resolution on hold for just one moment of a little self-indulgent fun and mark your calendar for February 2nd at 5:00 p.m. at the Swainsboro Country Club. Offered will be a wide array of delicate chocolates and champagne that will be sure to hit that sweet-tooth spot!
The club is excited to announce a new feature to the Death by Chocolate event this year. From the hours of 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., a silent auction will be held in the commons area of the country club. A variety of large and small ticket items will be available for bidding! In addition, Beta Sigma Phi and auctioneer, Rusty Lane will be hosting a live auction with some exciting must-have items that you do not want to miss! All auction proceeds will go to Relay For Life of Emanuel County.
Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the club's local projects which include The Sunshine House, The Emanuel County Animal Shelter, Emanuel County Schools, The Food Pantry and various local families in need throughout the year.
If you, your business or organization is interested in enjoying some decadent chocolate desserts, tickets are available now. Single tickets can be purchased for $10 or you can purchase packages including 6 tickets for $55 or 12 tickets for $105. Hurry before the chocolate melts!
For tickets or information, please contact one of the following officers: Kala Allmond- (478)455-4470 walkerpharmacyandgifts@hotmail.com, Whitney Farmer- (912)541-0590 (478)494-1817 whitneyfarmer@hotmail.com, Jill Harvey- (478)237-6363 jillcollinsslp@aol.com, Vanessa Wilkes-(478)299-2812 missemco99@gmail.com, Brooke Frye-(478)494-5591 brookeyoumans@gmail.com, Julie Palmer-(478)494-2953 palmerspeech@yahoo.com or the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 237-6426 swainsborochambr@bellsouth.net. |
Open Letter to Membership from your President:
Dear Chamber Members:
2011 was an interesting year to say the least. To borrow a phrase from Charles Dickens, "It was the best of times and the worst of times." Despite an ongoing housing slump that continues to impact our forestry industry, despite severe drought conditions that devastated area farmers, despite poor overall economic conditions that continue to plague local, state and national economies, and despite the announcement of cutbacks and eliminations of some local federal offices, Emanuel County fared better than most.
A $7 million dollar expansion at Swainsboro's Nordson facility and the successful recruitment of Hotset, Emanuel's first foreign-based company, has made this year a truly successful one in economic development. When coupled with the opening of a 200-bed housing facility on the campus of East Georgia, strong year-end performances by several local industrial concerns, and the announcement of the reopening of Youth Detention Center as a 500-inmate prison for women, it gives reason for some optimism that things may soon change for the better. While unemployment has hovered slightly above the 11% mark, progress has been made. The Chamber and the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities have worked closely with city and county leaders to make progress happen.
While we are pleased with the accomplishments made this year, we are hopeful that 2012 will be brighter, especially for local businesses and industries that have not fared as well.
So as not to break with tradition, listed below are some of the noteworthy achievements and activities in 2011.
Thanks go to Chairman Kenny Griffin and the Chamber's Board of Directors for their guidance and leadership. A special thanks goes to the Chamber staff for their help and dedication during this past year. Without Donna Brinson and Shanna Taylor, many of our efforts might have fallen short of the mark. We are very fortunate to have a concerned staff that works diligently to promote and enhance our county every day.
As stated earlier we earnestly hope 2012 will be brighter for all. Our pledge is that we will continue to work hard to merit the full support of our members.
Sincerely,
Bill Rogers Jr., President
A partial list of the Chamber's 2011 activities:
1)Sent out monthly newsletters to membership, reviewed monthly chamber budget, held monthly meetings with Chamber board
2)Attended Georgia Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet and Eggs & Issues Breakfast in Atlanta
3)Membership banquet held in February at East Georgia College. Dr. John Black was selected as "Person of the Year." Swainsboro Raceway and Ogeechee Steel were chosen as small and large "Businesses of the Year."
4)Attended 2011 Georgia Association of Chamber Executives (GACCE) Staff Clinic Workshop
5)Assisted with Industrial recruitment--Hotset
6)Continued to work closely with the Swainsboro Festival Foundation Committee on the Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO. Monthly meetings held. The event was held in May. Events were held over a two-week period.
7)Attended Heart of Georgia Regional Council monthly meetings.
8)Continued to work closely with DOT officials on Transportation Enhancement(TE) grant for signs on Swainsboro Bypass
9)Hosted "Industry Appreciation Luncheons" for local industries
10)Attended monthly meetings of the Joint Development Authorities
11)Co-hosted "Eggs & Issues" breakfast with local legislative delegation
12)Attended meetings of the Swainsboro Downtown Development Authority
13)Co-hosted "Lunch & Learn Series," Sudie Fulford Learning Center
14)Attended Classic South Regional Tourism meetings
16)Worked closely with local officials to seek solution on realignment of Military Operations Airspace over Emanuel County
17)Attended Heart of Georgia regional meetings on new transportation regional paving projects
18) Held webinars on impact of new federal health care legislation on small businesses
19)Held small business classes on estate planning and using social media as advertising medium
20)Attended Georgia Economic Development Project Managers' Tour
21)Assisted Nordson officials with expansion in Swainsboro
22)Set up Pine Tree Festival exhibit at State Welcome Center in Augusta prior to Masters' Week 23)Initiated a "Back-to-School Shop at Home" campaigns on WXRS and Forest-Blade
24)Conducted community tours for recruitment of doctors, Emanuel Medical Center
25)Held annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic; 108 golfers & 12 local industries participated
26)Assisted with passage of County's Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and School Board's Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESLOST)
27)Assisted business & commercial entrepreneurs with potential projects
28)Attended Annual Conference Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
29)Hosted Farm/City Breakfast with Emanuel County Farm Bureau
30)Assisted Downtown Development Authority with Christmas parade and "Carols on the Square"
31)Participated in 10 ribbon cuttings and grand openings throughout the year
32)Led nine-week course for Leadership Emanuel-22 graduated
33)Sponsored and promoted "Emanuel Christmas Gifts made in USA"
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Special thanks!
A special thanks goes to the Seedling Garden Club for decorating the Chamber for the holiday season. Club members participating in the project were Linda Lamb, Wanda Scarboro, Kay Peacock, Connie Baker, Joyce Harrison and Judy McWhorter. Thanks for making us look so festive! |
| December 2011 Chamber Member Renewals |
Curry Companies
Emanuel County Board of Education
Merle Norman
Phillip Jennings Turf Farms, LLC
Stitch -N- Print
Zaxby's |
Monday, January 2nd - Chamber Closed in observance of New Year's
Monday, January 9th, 11:30am-1:30pm - Rural Georiga Outlook Luncheon, East Georgia College
Wednesday, January 11th, 9:30am - Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Meeting, Chamber building
Thursday, January 12th, 12:00 noon - Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Regular Board Meeting, Chamber building
Monday, January 16th - Chamber Closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 17th, 5:00pm - Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Joint Development Authorities Board Meeting, Chamber building
Wednesday, January 19th, 4:00-6:00pm - Hotset Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Tuesday, January 24th, 11:00am - Vision Series presents Lili Bogdanova in concert, Luck Gambrell Autditorium
Thursday, February, 2nd, 5:30pm - Death by Chocolate, Swainsboro Country Club |
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