Good food, good times, great door prizes and perhaps just a little golf are expected at the 13th Annual Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce and Joint Development Authorities Golf Classic, to be held September 20th at Swainsboro Golf Course.

Over 100 golfers are expected to participate in the event, which begins with a Noon luncheon followed by a four-man scramble. A social and barbeque dinner are being planned to conclude the day.

The outing will also be a time for special recognition of local industries for their creations of jobs and economic impact on our economy. Local industries are being invited to play and enjoy the activities compliments of the Chamber and Joint Development Authorities. A number of local civic and business leaders are also expected.

For those who do not wish to play golf, a ticket can be purchased to attend the dinner for $6.00.

To register for the event, sponsor a hole, or furnish a door prize, please contact the Chamber at 237-6426.

The September Art Stroll will feature new and exciting Art exhibitions as well as live music at the Downtown Pavilion. The newest exhibition at Gallery RFD will feature artwork about Plagiarism and Appropriation in Art from over 20 artists from all over the United States.

The Emanuel Arts Council will feature work by Grady Abrams, whose work also explores Appropriation, at the Kalmanson Gallery off Green Street. Take a Stroll down Green Street and visit other exhibitions at 114 West Main Restaurant, Folds Photography, Brantley's Billiards, Jacks Java Cove, and great deals at Rainbow Antique Mall. The Stroll takes place from 5-8pm with an artists talk at RFD at 7pm.

At 8pm on Saturday, live music by Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold of Augusta will be featured at the Downtown Pavilion. The group play Gospel, Bluegrass, and Appalachian music. This music event is brought to you by the Downtown Commission for Arts and Commerce (DCAC). The DCAC is made up of The Chamber of Commerce, Nordson, Gallery RFD, Mill Creek, The Emanuel Arts Council, Radio Jones, The Forest Blade, the GREDC at EGC and Daniels Chevrolet.

On September 11, 2007 at 7 P.M., a commemorative service is being planned in the Swainsboro Downtown Park.

According to Robert Muns, Adjutant, American Legion Post 103, "The event will pay special tribute to the men and women who died on Sept 11, 2001. We will also recognize those who have served and are presently serving our community, state and nation. Special tributes will be paid to members of the Armed Services, police, sheriff, fire, EMT's and other public servants."

Judge Robert S. Reeves will serve as the keynote speaker of this year's event. Highlighting the service will be the naming of the "Patriot of the Year."

The Vision Series at East Georgia College will begin with performances by the Atlanta Pops Orchestra on September 13 at 11 A.M. and 7 P.M. The performances, free to the public, will be held in the Auditorium of the Luck Flanders Gambrell Center. For more information call East Georgia College at 478- 289-2017.

In an effort to become an "Entrepreneur Friendly Designated Community," the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce has been conducting a number of interviews with small businesses throughout the county. Twenty-five interviews were conducted during a three day period, August 13th, 14th and 17th.

Information gained from the interviews will be compiled into a statewide report for the Governor's Office to give insight into problems currently facing small business owners.

The program is being administered through the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Small Business and Innovation Division. Adela Kelley, Regional Project Manager, is assisting the Chamber with the designation process.

"This program should give us valuable insight into our local business community. It should give us an idea of the problems small business owners face every day," stated Bill Rogers Jr., president of the Chamber. "There is no doubt that a healthy business climate offers all citizens a better quality of life."

"We would especially like to thank those business owners who took time out of their hectic schedules to assist us."

Among the businesses interviewed were Candy Bouquet, Auto Parts & Supply, Rainbow Antiques, B&L Claxton Logging, Meek's Farm & Nursery, Second Hand Styles, Jack's Java Cove, Southland Life Insurance, Custom Furniture, Flat Creek Lodge, Buddy's Truck Repair & Redimix, R&F Manufacturing, Radio Jones, Folds Photography, Rich Insurance & Mortgage, Edenfield House Inn, Touch of Class, Swainsboro Eye Clinic, AeroXS, Wilson's Pharmacy, and Recordex.

Swainsboro's Second Saturday Art Stroll is making headlines.

In the August 14th edition of Savannah's News, Arts & Entertainment Weekl,y the Second Saturday event was featured in an article by Robin Wright Gunn.

"If Swainsboro, Ga. isn't on your list of summer road trips-make a new list," states the opening paragraph.

The story recaps the brief history and vision of Second Saturday Stroll, quoting Jack Bareford, Anthony Faris, and Bryan Ghiloni. The article adds "a random poll of July strollers revealed visitors from Atlanta, Savannah, Metter, Louisville and Savannah, as wells as Swainsboro and nearby Stillmore".

The complete article can be viewed at www.connectsavannah.com.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce participated in the Classic South Tourism Road Show, recently held at the offices of the Georgia Department of Economic Development in Atlanta.

"The Road Show" is held annually to remind state tourism officials of the many attractions in this part of Georgia," stated Bill Rogers Jr., chamber president.

The chamber featured brochures on George L. Smith State Park, Flat Creek Lodge, and the areas bed & breakfast operations and area motels.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives located in all Georgia counties except Chattahoochee and Muscogee counties as a result of damages and losses to crops caused by drought that occurred January 1, 2007 and continues.

"SBA's disaster declaration was issued as a result of a similar action taken by the Secretary of Agriculture to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm- related and nonfarm-related small business concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered economic injury as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

Eligible small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives may qualify for loans up to $1.5 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan terms up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the program based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition. Under this disaster declaration, SBA cannot provide loans to agricultural producers.

Interested business owners should contact SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 A.M.. to 9 P.M. and Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (EDT). Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than March 27, 2008.

According to a recent article featured on GlobalAtlanta website, companies across the U.S. with undocumented workers will face fines and possibly criminal prosecution under new rules issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The article further stated that "no match" notifications from the Social Security Administration will be closely monitored with mismatches between the government's databases and the employees' records.

Georgia's agriculture, construction and hospitality industries will be particularly affected, they said. The crackdown represents the latest immigration initiative.

The rules are to go into effect in September. If an employer cannot resolve the mismatch, the government may impose a fine of up to $10,000 per case within 90 days of notification. Employers that do not pay the fines could face criminal prosecution.

"Last year out of 250 million wage reports that were received by the Social Security Administration, as many as 10 percent belonged to employees whose information did not match their Social Security records," said Veronica Nur Valdes, a spokesperson for the department.

Days Inn & Suites
Neil Shah, Owner
108 Alice Circle
Swainsboro, GA 30401
478-237-9099
FAX 478-237-9333
shah8977@bellsouth.net
www.daysinn.com