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The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It engages in policy advocacy and economic development initiatives on behalf of businesses of all sizes.
The organization was founded as the Georgia Manufacturing Association in 1915 [1] . It became Associated Industries of Georgia in 1939 [2] , Georgia Business and Industry Association in 1968, Business Council of Georgia in 1983 [2] , and adopted its current name in 1992. [3]
Throughout its history, the Chamber has formed partnerships with various organizations including Leadership Georgia (1971), the Georgia Self-Insurers Association (1975), the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (1990), the Georgia Employers' Association (2003), the Council on Alcohol and Drugs/Drugs Don’t Work (2004), and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia (2004). These partnerships cover areas such as workforce development, employer services, education, and tourism.[ citation needed ]
In 2010, Chris Clark began his role as President and CEO of the Chamber [4] and continues to lead the organization.
The Chamber employs approximately 30 staff members who work in departments including operations, member services, government affairs, public policy, and communications. [5] It also works with volunteers from Georgia businesses who serve on its board of directors, government affairs council, and policy committees.
The Georgia Chamber is unique in the sense that each of the organization's activities is designed for business advocacy purposes – including direct lobbying efforts, membership events, the Georgia Business Action Network (GBAN), and others. Local chambers, on the other hand, tend to focus on economic development and tourism projects. The Georgia Chamber is viewed by some as not a competitor to the local chambers in the state; rather it is seen as a complement to networking and economic development programs offered at the local level.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce maintains an in-house team of lobbyists. They promote legislation favorable to Georgia businesses and lobby against bills considered detrimental to business interests.
The Chamber has advocated for legislation including:
On March 12, 2021, the Chamber issued a statement opposing Republican election reforms that would end no-excuse absentee voting, limit early voting hours, restrict drop-boxes for mail ballots, and curtail early voting on Sundays. [6]
The Georgia Initiative, launched in 2008, coordinates the Chamber's policy positions across multiple areas. These include Education and Workforce Development, Environment and Energy, Health Care, Tax Policy, Tourism, and Transportation.
The Red Carpet Tour and Georgia Quail Hunt are annual events hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Georgia Allies. Both events host business executives from around the world to learn about economic development opportunities offered by the state of Georgia. Past event participants who eventually moved their company headquarters to Georgia include Georgia Pacific and NCR.
The Red Carpet Tour is held each April and has been in existence since 1959. Participants visit Augusta each year to attend the Masters Golf Tournament. A second location differs from year to year to allow further exploration of the state. These locations have included Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Rome, Savannah, and Valdosta.
The Georgia Quail Hunt began in 1988, and it is held each year in southwest Georgia. Guests participate in quail hunting and shooting instruction on nine different southern plantations while networking with Georgia business leaders and legislators. Originally called the Fall Feather Hunt, the name was changed to the Georgia Quail Hunt to reflect the change in the time of year the event was held.
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