Chamber News

B2B Stories

The 411 on doing business with Georgia

Getting a government contract with the Peach State could be lucrative, but may seem like a daunting task. The Augusta Chamber and Rhodes Porter Business Development Management are providing a Special Edition Business Builder to help cut through some of the red tape. The registration deadline is tomorrow, Friday, February 9. Advanced registration is required at augustametrochamber.com/events. The Special Edition Business Builder – “Procurement in the Peach State” will be presented by Crystal Langley and Julian Bailey from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). The discussion will focus on how

Read More »
B2B Stories

Sports team owner draws big crowd for upcoming chamber event

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s 19th annual banquet is set for the county’s Exhibition Center in Grovetown. The showcase begins at 4:30 p.m. on February 8 and flows into the 6:00 p.m. banquet. “We’re expecting over 500, we’re not too far off that number right now. I imagine by the time all is said and done, we’ll probably have easily over 500 people in the room,” Russ Lahodny, Chamber President and CEO told ABD. “It’s a good opportunity, a lot of the smaller businesses for sure, enjoy that opportunity

Read More »
B2B Stories

Columbia County Chamber touts new workforce development center

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced a new center targeting workforce development, and the Columbia County Chamber is ready to tap into it. The Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness was announced on Jan. 10 at the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast. “This new strategic initiative was created to lead the state through an unprecedented talent transformation,” said Daniela Perry, Vice President of the Georgia Chamber Foundation in a news release announcing the center. “Talent continues to be the number one issue facing our members. The Center for Workforce and

Read More »
B2B Stories

Small but mighty Chamber

In a beloved children’s book, the Little Engine That Could famously said, “I think I can. I think I can.” There is an office in North Augusta where they say, “I know we can.” The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce is the smallest of similar organizations serving businesses in metro Augusta. As 2023 was winding down, President and CEO, Terra Carroll sat down with Augusta Business Daily to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to 2024. “I think coming over and partnering with the city really gave

Read More »
Awards

Chamber ends year with traditional awards and a surprise

The Augusta Metro Chamber announced the 2023 Best in Business awards for the Corporation of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year during its final Member Economic Luncheon of 2023 last week. The winning corporation has been a longtime presence in Richmond County since 1930 when it was founded as Shapiro Packing Company, LLC. In 2004, the facility on New Savannah Road was purchased by François Léger, who renamed it FPL Foods, LLC. Dennis Trotter, Chairman of the chamber’s Board of Directors, said Léger, armed with an agricultural degree, began

Read More »
Awards/Celebrations

Getting business advice from the experts

The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Power Lunch this week was powerful, featuring a panel discussion led by two business owners with a decade-long track record of success. Stephen and Nancy Posey, 4th generation owners of Posey Funeral Directors, and Alan Owings and his daughter, Allison Bass, 3rd generation owners of Owings & Sam Dentistry on W. Martintown Road, fielded questions about longevity, and how to nurture a business for future generations. Posey opened on Georgia Ave. in North Augusta in 1879, while Dr. David Owings started his dentistry practice

Read More »
B2B Stories

For employers, it’s a war out there!

The Georgia Chamber Foundation has issued its 4th quarter economic report, and the title, the War for Talent, sums up what the state is facing. The report looks at where Georgia stands in filling current job openings and anticipating future needs. It states that Georgia’s current workforce participation rate is about 61%, meaning 40% of adults are not engaged in the workforce. That translates to 3.2 million Georgians. At the same time, there are more than 350,000 job openings in each quarter. The Chamber Foundation says the War for Talent

Read More »
Awards/Celebrations

Local leaders among top in Georgia

Last year, Georgia Trend magazine introduced the inaugural GEORGIA 500, a comprehensive publication of leaders around the state driving our successful economy to new heights year after year, and once again, Chamber President, Sue Parr has been named to this list. The Augusta Metro Chamber serves as the voice of the business community and represents over 1,200 members. Under Parr’s leadership, the Chamber’s policy work has included advocating for local excise tax-free industrial energy costs and abundant transportation infrastructure, supporting the state’s second back-to-back 10-year, 13-county Transportation Investment Act (TIA)

Read More »
B2B Stories

‘We’re in a great place in Georgia,’ says chamber president, Clark

With record economic growth and development taking off in Georgia, the Peach State will need to keep up with the pace to stay ahead of the game. Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, brought this idea to the table at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Luncheon series on Nov.15. Clark used the state chamber’s quarterly economic report for the third quarter to update them on the progress the state is making. He also took the time to walk business leaders through the challenges

Read More »
Awards/Celebrations

Augusta Metro Chamber receives prestigious honor

The Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) recently recognized the 2023 class of Georgia Certified Chambers, and the Augusta Metro Chamber was one of nine Georgia chambers to receive the certification. In 2011, the GACCE Board of Directors sought a way to recognize Chambers of Commerce in the state that have focused internally on their operations to assess their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to create efficient, effective organizations positioned to deliver great value. Thus, the Georgia Certified Chamber program was created. The purpose of the program is to facilitate continuing

Read More »