We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our members for their support of the Chamber and especially, to our Enhanced Investors, some of whom are included below:

 

Platinum Sponsors:

 

BlueCross BlueShield of Georgia; Carmike Cinemas; George C. Woodruff Company    

 

 

Joining one of the many committees of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a great way to expand your business network by building contacts throughout the business community.

 

Click here to sign up for a committee today!

  

 

Purchase your ultimate networking event package for only $150.00 This pass saves you 30% off of networking event prices! No reservations or waiting in line

with your
ALL ACCESS PASS!

  

 Contact Tabetha Getz at tgetz@columbusgachamber.com or 706-257-1183 for more information.

 

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other media links

 

Chamber Events

More than 200 people attended the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Mayor's State of the City address and luncheon on Jan. 17 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. The Mayor's State of the city provided an opportunity to hear about issues that impact the community and businesses. Thank you to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport and Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker and Ford, P.C for sponsoring the event.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson presented "Mayor's State of the City" Jan. 17 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

Read more about the Mayor's address.

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New Chamber members attended an orientation on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Chamber. Over 35 members attended the breakfast to learn more about how to be engaged with the chamber and grow their network. Members had the opportunity to introduce themselves and perfect an elevator speech as well as learn about the Chamber programs and join a committee. Welcome all new Chamber Members!

New Member Orientation Jan. 2012

 

Columbus Community Bank sponsored the first Business After Hours of 2012 on Thursday, January 19. A large crowd attended the event and enjoyed networking in a relaxed atmosphere with food and drinks. Columbus Community Bank is located at 5604 Whittlesey Blvd. Thank you Columbus Community Bank for an outstanding 2012 kick-off Business After Hours.

 

Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings

 

MJ's Tax Services held a ribbon cutting for their new location on Tuesday Jan. 3. Congratulations to MJ's Tax Service on the opening of the second Columbus location. The original MJ's is located at 3014 Cusseta Rd.

MJ's Tax Services 4343 Armor Rd. Columbus, GA. Phone: 706.221.0943 Web: Mjtax.com

Business News

As a service of your Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, this is a reminder that the application for Freeport Exemption Inventory by eligible companies must be filed with the Board of Tax Assessors on or before April 1, 2012, in order to be considered for maximum exemption. From April 1 until June 1, applications may be filed but will result in a partial exemption.

We've listened to your feedback and as a result, the Chamber has Implemented a BRAND NEW committee just for YOU!

Mark your calendars and plan to come out and join this committee as the Small Business Outreach Committee (SBO) will meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Chamber in the Saunders Board Room from 8:00am - 9:00am! Chair Cedric Hill and the committee's leadership team welcome your participation and involvement on this NEW and exciting outreach committee! The former stand alone committees: BBO, HBO and BDNG are now task force sub-committees of the SBO.

The Georgia Small Business Development Center will offer the Grow Smart Program in Columbus Jan. 27-March 23. In a series of weekly sessions over two months 35 hours of class time is devoted to covering all aspects of business operation. Whether you are a new business owner or have been in business for 20 years you can benefit from this program.

According to Dr. Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business predicts that 1,400 jobs will be created in the Columbus Region in 2012.

Humphreys said Columbus gained 1,000 jobs in 2011 when the state lost jobs. Columbus faired better than the state in housing prices down 13 percent where the state was double that. He expects Columbus to continue to grow from the expansion at Fort Benning. Columbus also fared well in statistics released by the Georgia Department of Labor, with the metro area showing a gain of 1,600 jobs in calendar year 2011, the best performance in the state.

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Achievements and Honors

 

Georgia Trend has named Becca Hardin, Executive Vice President of Economic Development for The Valley Partnership, to its annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.

 

Becca Hardin leads the economic development team for a multi-county, multi-governmental entity covering Columbus/Muscogee County, Harris, Talbot, Taylor, Marion and Chattahoochee counties and the cities of West Point, Manchester and Phenix City, Ala. The Partnership has, since 2000, created more than 16,000 jobs and generated $2.7 billion through new projects and business expansions.