OďŹƒcial Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
THE CHAMBER CORNER
March 2013
Volume 13, Issue 3
Bonnie Simmons holds the economic impact check for tourism, presented at Tourism Day at the Capitol. State and local tax revenues have increased 23.5 percent for the last five years! Also, the new state travel guide was unveiled which features Eatonton!
Mission
The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is committed to the promotion, enhancement and unity of the business community, and is vested in the development of Eatonton-Putnam County as a premiere tourist destination.
Strategic Goals
1. Support Business & Community 2. Support Tourism
Values Growth Prosperity Unity
Nominations for 2013 Chamber Awards Are Open
Board of Directors Accepting Nominations
The Annual Awards Banquet will be held Monday, May 6 to recognize those in our community who have excelled this past year to make the Briar Patch a great place to live, work and play. Enclosed, please find a nomination form for Business Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Edward Rice Youth in Excellence Award. Our community is full of hard working individuals, and we are reaching out to our members to help us honor those who have gone above and beyond. Please submit your nominations by Monday, April 8.
The Chamber is looking for new leadership to serve on our Board of Directors. Having fulfilled two terms, Jon Butler, Joe Hudson and Marty Phillips will create three new positions, while Dr. Rita Daniel has served one term, being eligible to serve again. A nominating committee has been appointed by the Board, including Cynthia Wallace, Wes Lewis, Bryce McQuin and Joe Hudson. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please contact the committee before March 11. Nominations will be presented to the Board on March 21.
In addition to submitting a nomination, corporate sponsorships and table centerpiece donations are now being accepted. Corporate sponsorships are ...Continued on page 2.
StartSMART Offers Scholarships
The Macon Small Business Development Center is offering the SBDC StartSMART program to entrepreneurs. Owning your own business is the American dream. Building it to withstand the test of time requires a unique set of tools and a lot of hard work. StartSMART will evaluate and refine your business concept; improve your knowledge of business fundamentals; conduct research about your markets and competition; develop a thorough, yet practical business plan; and provide on-going consulting from SBDC professionals to keep you on track. In just eight, three-hour sessions, learn to evaluate and implement your vision by creating a strategic plan. Sessions meet every Friday, April 5-May 10. Scholarships are available. For more information, call (478) 757-3609, email smalloy@georgiasbdc. org or visit www.georgiasbdc.org.
Free Labor for Training Your business can receive free labor as the Middle Georgia Consortium is actively seeking businesses that are willing to become worksites for the Youth Employment and Training Program. Part-time, year-round and full-time summer positions are needed to match the interests of students with local employers in need of labor. The Consortium invites Chamber members to provide local youth with occupational skills in the work place while also being a positive influence in the community. Our youth are our future; please help us train them to be responsible adults in the work place. To participate in the program, contact the Chamber for a worksite application. For more information on this program, please email amcintosh@mgwib.com. The Middle Georgia Consortium receives federal funds to support workforce development in Middle Georgia under the Workforce Investment Act.