Friday, February 25, 2011

Entrepreneur & Small Business Week Celebration, Business Plan Competition

This week is Entrepreneur & Small Business Week. To celebrate the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, Chaired by Michelle Lamping of First Citizens Bank, invited “cottage” or home businesses, startups, and existing small businesses to a luncheon to kick off the Chamber’s Business Plan Competition. The luncheon was sponsored by First Citizens Bank and Sanders & Ranck Law Offices.

Please recognize our Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses attending: Finnegan’s Baked Goods, Reynold’s Pool & Spa, Big A Signs & Tees, Fab Four Store, Debbie Vazquez Floral Designs, Brett Walker IT Services, Jolan Stoltz Infinite Possibilities Internet Broadcasting and Jim Cason’s Handicap Furniture.

Also in attendance was the Toccoa Falls College Business Department students and faculty, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), North Georgia Technical College and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

A Business Plan Competition was announced and the businesses were invited to create or refine their business plans with support from the Business students and providers. The Plans will be judged by the Committee and the winner will receive business services and support prizes including legal services from Sanders & Ranck, a waived City business license fee, a free Chamber of Commerce membership and free advertising on WNEG Radio. The winner will be announced Wednesday May 25th in celebration of National Business Week.

1. Next Thursday March 3rd we will have a Business After Hours for all the Stephens County Partners in Education. This program matches schools with businesses to promote better understanding of public education and provide resources for the students and staff. The Business After Hours is the Chamber’s way to recognize and thank the businesses who are committed to our schools - and to student success.

2. The Magic Show is back in town on Friday, March 4th. Plan to eat your dinner before hand at the GBCC and then see Magician Garry and his lovely wife Mihala. The act this year will be new and exciting, and includes live leopards, ducks and doves! Come by the Welcome Center to get your tickets for both the dinner and the show today.

3. Finally, please go eat your next meal at the Sonic Drive In. February is Chamber month and we only have a few more days in February to reach our fundraising goal for the Chamber. Go see new owner James Addison and thank him for his food, fun and fellowship. Tell the carhop you support your Chamber and they will donate 25% of the sales.

Remember the Chamber’s mission is to be a business advocate, community partner and economic development stimulator. We offer a variety of networking, marketing and education programs to grow your business. You can follow our Blog and follow us on Facebook. We ’re here when you are ready!

That’s your weekly Update. I’m Wendi Bailey your Toccoa Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Chamber's Entrepreneur & Small Business Week Luncheon, February 23, 2010

Entrepreneur & Small Business Week Luncheon set for February 23, 2010

WHAT: Entrepreneur and Small Business Week Kicks off the Business Plan Competition
DATE: Wednesday, February 23rd
TIME: 12pm to 1pm
PLACE: Historic Train Depot Mitchell Allen Conference Room, 160 North Alexander Street, Toccoa 30577
RSVP: Chamber of Commerce – Wendi Bailey 706-886-2132, Chair of the Economic Development Committee Michelle Lamping, First Citizens Bank – 706-886-9421


The Toccoa Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development (EcD) Committee is Chaired by Michelle Lamping of First Citizens Bank and Co-Chaired by Jay Doss of Skelton Morris Associates.

EcD Committee members include Matt Skilling – Sanders & Ranck, Connie Tabor – Toccoa Mainstreet, Lisa Prickett – Literacy Foundation, Bill Wheeler – GA Baptist Conference Center, Bobby Davis – TSC Airport, Tim Martin – TSC Development Authority, Mark Wilkinson – Wilkinson Lumber and Hayley Knight – TSC Hospital.

Entrepreneur and Small Business Week is February 21st through the 25th. The EcD Committee is now actively recruiting “cottage” or home businesses, startups, and/or existing small businesses to participate in a luncheon to kick off the upcoming Business Plan Competition.

The luncheon is sponsored by First Citizens Bank and Sanders & Ranck Law Offices. It is set for Wednesday, February 23rd at 12pm in the Mitchell Allen Conference room. Please RSVP by calling the Chamber at 706-886-2132.

The Committee has partnered with the Toccoa Falls College Business Department, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), North Georgia Technical College and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). The goal is to match the resource providers with the participants and create or refine their business plans.

Businesses will compete for sponsored business services and support, including legal services from Sanders & Ranck and a free Chamber of Commerce membership. There will be a winner announced at the conclusion of the competition.

Do you or someone you know have a business idea? Do you have a business plan that needs some attention? Do you need resources and support to get your business off the ground, or take it to the next level? Call the Chamber to register for the luncheon today.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Toccoa-Stephens County's Fireworks Over Toccoa Day at the Capitol

Press Release - February 4, 2011
Toccoa-Stephens County’s Fireworks Over Toccoa Day at the Capitol is Thursday, February 10, 2011

Contacts:
Wendi Bailey – President Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, 706-886-2132
Tim Martin – Executive Director of the Stephens County Development Authority, 706-886-4242
Jeffrey Stepakoff - Assistant Professor of Screen & Script Writing Department of English Kennesaw State University, 678-797-2360

Toccoa-Stephens County’s “Fireworks Over Toccoa” Day is set for Thursday February 10, 2011. Our theme this year is “Fireworks Over Toccoa” taken from the book released by author Jeffrey Stepakoff.

“We are honored to have Jeffrey as our special guest this year, says Wendi Bailey, T-SC Chamber of Commerce President. “He is an accomplished writer who has spent a great deal of time learning about Toccoa for his book. Each legislator will receive an autographed, hard copy of his book, Fireworks Over Toccoa which will this month be released in paperback and is destined to become a major motion picture soon thereafter.”

The House and Senate will each read Resolutions officially proclaiming February 10 as T-SC’s Fireworks Over Toccoa Day. There will be Team Toccoa photos taken with the Governor, LT Governor, Secretary of State and Speaker of the House.

A luncheon will be held for key officials sponsored by local businesses including 1st Franklin Financial, North Georgia Credit Union, Georgia Power and the law offices of Sanders & Ranck. In the afternoon, the Toccoa-Stephens County delegation will pair up to visit the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees important
to the citizens of Toccoa-Stephens County.

This is a collaborative effort highlighting our Community assets and ttractions. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our team to review legislative issues and concerns including infrastructure, transportation, water supply, tourism product development, education and labor force – just to name a few,” says Tim Martin, Executive
Director of the Development Authority. “It is also a great way to thank our legislators and state agencies for their service, build good will, and tell everyone how much we respect and enjoy working with Senator
Butterworth and Representative Harden.”

“A July 2010 Georgia Trend business magazine article about T-SC was titled “Working Together” says Mayor Janice English. “It highlighted our strength of leadership and the team spirit that provides the ability to make a difference in our community. T-SC’s Fireworks Over Toccoa Day at the Capitol is just another example of that.”

Last year was a great success with over 45 local citizens representing businesses, County and City Government, Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce. This year the T-SC Youth Leadership and a group from the Community’s Senior Center will also attend. For more information please contact the Chamber at 706-886-2132 or the Development Authority at 706-886-4242.