Strategies for Obtaining Capitol and Funding Growth

The Chamber’s NEW Small Business Webinar Series continues this month with “Strategies for Obtaining Capitol and Funding Growth.”  It’s on Wednesday June 18^th from 12pm to 1pm and can be attended as a group, in the Development Authority office on Doyle Street, or you can link into the meeting from your home or office.

The webinar will cover why having a strategy in place is crucial for small businesses, strategies and sources for financing, and what businesses need to be doing now in order to navigate the process successfully in the future.

The webinar will be presented by Grace Fricks, President and CEO of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc. (ACE), and Linda Davis Jameson, Chief Credit Officer at ACE. Bring your lunch and we'll provide drinks and dessert. Please call the Chamber to register at 706-886-2132. There will be six webinars in all and the three remaining are in August, October and December. 

I have a few announcements for you:

The Center for Natural Health and Optimal Wellness is having their grand opening next Monday June 9^th at their new location at the Toccoa Foothills Plaza.  The Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony is next Thursday the 12^th at 10am at their new location. Also, please save the date for Get Fit Boot Camp Ribbon Cutting on June 19^th and for Just Good Things on June 26^th.  

The next Business-After-Hours is on Thursday June 26^th. This is a special summer Joint Business-After-Hours with the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce at the Currahee Vineyards and Winery. The winery has a new wine to share called Blanc de Bleau which is made from a variety of grape that originated here in the 1600’s. Currahee Vineyards has acquired this special grape and is now the only winery in NEGA to have it. Come meet owner Marvin Dunson, meet new people from Habersham, make new business connections, and bring a door prize to promote your business cross county lines.  

Our new Welcome Center Director Sharon Crenshaw wants me to remind you about upcoming activities: tonight is the “kick off” of the summer move series at the Schaeffer Center with the movie Frozen, on Saturday morning there is a Nature Walk at Tugaloo Bend, Saturday evening you have the first concert of the Ida Cox Music Festival downtown and the Toccoa Motor Speedway has “Ultimate Late Model” racing.  

For more information on these and other events please visit the community calendar at www.toccoagachamber.com.  That’s your weekly update! I’m Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President!

T-SC TOMORROW Workforce Development & Summer Manufacturing Camp

Hello, this is Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President with your Weekly Chamber Update.  

The Toccoa-Stephens County Tomorrow visioning program includes a “Champion of Workforce Development” and he is Dr. Mark Ivester, NGTC VP of Economic Development. His mission is to cultivate a workforce that provides a competitive edge for existing businesses and attracts new companies to Toccoa-Stephens County.

NGTC enrolled in the “Dream IT Do IT” campaign which is a national program sponsored by the Manufacturing Institute and promotes manufacturing careers in the US. Organizations from 32 different states enrolled in the program and our NGTC was the first in Georgia.

In an effort to create awareness of manufacturing careers, the college is currently offering a Summer Manufacturing Camp for kids grades 6-9 from June 2-5 from 8am to 4pm at the Clarkesville Campus.   

There will be tours at Caterpillar in Athens and Eastanollee, as well as TI Automotive in Lavonia. A student will work in their engineering lab to design a part then move on to the machine tool lab to build the part.

Presentations will be made showing the history of manufacturing, as well as, manufacturing today.  For more information about the Summer Manufacturing Camp please visit their website at www.northgatech.edu  or call the Chamber at 706-886-2132.

Also, there are additional opportunities for financial aid at the college, i.e. the expanded Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, new low interest loans and the Hope Grant are all available for qualifying students. Contact College Admissions to learn more.

I have a few announcements for you:

The Stephens County Historical Society is celebrating the 70^th anniversary of D-Day this Saturday. The run up Currahee Mountain is at 8am, the walk is at 9am, the kids obstacle course is at 10am and the memorial service is at 12pm with the very Reverend Mary Demmler. All events are at the Camp Toccoa at Currahee on Ayersville Rd.

TODAY at 10am is the “Departure Ceremony” for the Toccoa Soldiers at the GBCC. The local National Guard unit is preparing to deploy on a potentially yearlong mission. Soldiers from the 876th Engineering unit will train their Afghan counterparts and either construct or dismantle buildings and the like depending on the need of U.S. troops. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony at the GBCC.

For more information on these and other events please visit the community calendar at www.toccoagachamber.com.  That’s your weekly update! I’m Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

The Chamber’s 17^th Annual Golf Tournament, presented by North Georgia Credit Union, was at the award winning Currahee Club last Friday! 23 teams, one coming as far away as Carol County, got to experience the 7,200 yard, highly decorated, Jim Fazio designed, championship course.

Congratulations goes to the winning Teams: 1^st place was State Farm - Mike Van Minos, 2^nd place was 1^st Franklin Financial and 3rd place was Stephens Federal Bank. Steve Alligood won the 2014 Currahee Club membership.   

We have a complete list of all our sponsors and prize winners on our Chamber web site at www.toccoagachamber.com. On behalf of the Chamber Board we thank you for your support of this important event. Thank for supporting your Chamber and Welcome Center.  

I have a few announcements for you:

Your Chamber and “Deal Armstrong” are creating an exclusive Chamber Member coupon flyer that will help your business reach close to 8,000 North Georgians, in 8 counties who have opted in to see regional deals. Call us today for a consultation or for more information and to reserve your spot. 

The 7^th Annual Tugaloo Corridor Canoe/Kayak River History Tour is scheduled for this Saturday, May 24, 2014, (Memorial Day Weekend). The plan is to depart from Walker Creek Access on Yonah Dam Road by 8:30am, lunch at Longnose Creek Falls (water level permitting) and takeout adjacent to the Mound around  2:30pm or so with transportation provided for principle drivers back to Walker Creek.  If you think you will be able to make it this year please call Kelly at 706-886-0022. Be ready for a good paddle!

For more information on these and other events please visit the community calendar at www.toccoagachamber.com. Happy Memorial Day!  

Welcome New Welcome Center Director Sharon Crenshaw

Your Chamber of Commerce announced at the Annual Meeting last week we’ve hired Sharon Crenshaw as the new Welcome Center Director for Toccoa-Stephens County. 

As the Champion of Tourism, the new marketing effort will rely on staff energy and enthusiasm, using social media and the internet, rather than depending on a big budget for purchasing advertising. We plan to create unique and engaging social media campaigns to generate “buzz” about our tourism attractions and assets. 

Our new Welcome Center Director was born and raised in Orlando, FL. Sharon and her family moved to Toccoa in 1989 when her husband Jim Crenshaw accepted a job at the City of Toccoa. They fell in love with the town and the surrounding areas. Sharon’s father was a prop specialist in WWII and was sent to England where he met and married her mom.  Sharon enjoyed having Tea with her parents growing up and last year she gave Teas through her “Lily Brown’s Tea Room” at the former Victoria’s Sweet Treats location. Sharon is also an amateur photographer who enjoys catching the beauty of nature, unusual shots and glimpses of people who are not expecting their picture to be taken.

 

It’s a new day and a new direction at your Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is staffed with Saturday Specialist Joan Ritcey and Welcome Center Director Sharon Crenshaw. Also, Mr. Joe Ferguson, Chairman of the Stephens County Foundation and the Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site, has agreed to be the new Chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee.  

Sharon will spend the summer familiarizing herself with all the tourism “points of interest” in Toccoa-Stephens County. She is looking forward to meeting the tourism partners and learning more about this beautiful community. Please help us welcome her to this new position and follow her journey on Facebook at the “Welcome Center for Toccoa-Stephens County”. 

I have a few announcements for you:

The Chamber’s 68^th Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony celebration was last week at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center.  Major accomplishments and outstanding achievements were recognized. Be sure to congratulate this year’s award winners! For a complete list please visit our Chamber web site, www.toccoagachamber.com

 

The Chamber’s 17^th Annual Golf Tournament, presented by North Georgia Credit Union, is at the award winning Currahee Club this Friday!  At 23 teams, the tournament is full and we have a “wait list” to play at this time.

We have a NEW marketing opportunity for you!  Your Chamber and “Deal Armstrong” are partnering to create an exclusive Chamber Member coupon flyer. There are online - marketing opportunities galore here, reaching close to 8,000 North Georgians, in 8 counties who have opted in to see regional deals. Call us today for more information and to reserve your spot. 

Finally, TODAY at 10am we have special Ribbon Cutting for Toccoa Insurance Agency at their new location on Rosedale behind Next To Me Medical Supplies. Come visit with Margaret Nix and learn more about how they provide insurance for business and individuals, with the personal service and attention you deserve. That’s 10am at the new location on Rosedale. 

There are so many great events happening this weekend. On Saturday is the Tugaloo Bend Snakes of NEGA program, and the Fast Track Touring Race at the Toccoa Speedway. Also, this weekend is the ACS Relay for Life. For more information see the community calendar at www.toccoagachamber.com   That’s your weekly update! I’m Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President!

Georgia Chamber Webinar Series Comes to Toccoa!

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce provides educational resources to help our local small business members succeed. One example of this is the bimonthly webinar series that focuses on topics important to small business. 

New this year the Chamber partnered with the Georgia Chamber to bring the series to our community through offering in-person viewings. You can now choose to attend in person or participate from your home or office. There are six webinars total in 2014. The one today was on “How to Hire, Train and Retain Top Talent. In June the topic is “Obtaining Capital & Funding for Growth.”

If you missed the presentation today you can still get the slide show hand outs and other class materials.  Call today to learn more about the Georgia Chamber small business resources and look for next Georgia Chamber webinar in June.

I have a few announcements for you:

Your Chamber and “Deal Armstrong” are partnering to create an exclusive Chamber Member coupon flyer. There are online marketing opportunities galore, reaching close to 8000 North Georgians, in 8 counties who have opted in to see regional deals. Call us today for more information and to reserve your spot. 

THANK YOU to the candidates for participating in the 2nd Political Forum last week - for a job well done. If you missed the forum, you can hear it on WNEG AM 630 again, on April 28^th to kick off the early voting period.

Congratulate the 2014 Business Plan Competition participants: Franklin Currahee Sanitation, Just Sew Pretty, The Center for Natural and Optimal Wellness and Victoria’s Sweet Treats & Boutique.  These entrepreneurs are completing the challenge this week. Their final Business Plans are due this Friday and the winner – who will receive over $8,000 in cash and prizes - will be announced at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Thursday May 8th.  

Don’t miss your Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony celebration on Thursday May 8^th. Come watch Jay Doss present the awards, see outgoing Chairman Brain Akin, CEO of NGCU pass the baton to incoming Chairman Greg Roach, NGTC Currahee Campus Director, and hear comments from Commissioner Ron Jackson - the Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia.   

Finally, the Chamber’s Golf Tournament, presented by NGCU, is at the award winning Currahee Club on Friday May 16th.  New this year there is an earlier start, an excellent mulligan package, fantastic prizes and our sponsors will also get their ads placed on the chamber’s web site – first come first serve, while supplies last.    

For more information visit www.toccoagachamber.com.  That’s your weekly update! I’m Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President with your Weekly Chamber Update!