Chamber In Motion: Coming to a bank near you!

The LAST day to vote is Tuesday, July 20.

Offices on the ballot include County Commissioners up to Georgia Governor and U.S. Congressmen.

The Elections office hours: M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for early voting for the Primary Election

Avoid the lines during the last week of voting!

Call 671-2850 or e-mail to receive a ballot.

Visit www.sos.ga.gov/mvp
or come into the elections office for a sample ballot.

Annual Meeting Questionnaire

Have you completed the Annual Meeting Questionnaire? Tell us what your business needs from Annual Meeting.

Click here for the questionnaire.

The S.E.E.D.S. Center is coming to a bank near you!

Courtney Ruttinger with The Park Avenue Bank lenders: Terry Johnson, Becky Briggs, Sandy Rentz, Jeff Hanson, Patrick Brown, Betsy Harrell, Resa Davis, Kelly Panzenhagen, Jill Akins.

Lenders at The Park Avenue Bank were visited by S.E.E.D.S. Center Coordinator, Courtney Ruttinger, on June 15. Ruttinger shared how the S.E.E.D.S. Center can assist bank and lender clients with the free resources offered by the Center. The lenders were encouraged to use the services to help them professionally and to help their clients. The S.E.E.D.S. Center is an entrepreneur resource center that provides assistance to start-up businesses as well as existing and expanding businesses. If your bank is interested in learning more about the services of the S.E.E.D.S. Center and how they can assist you, contact Courtney Ruttinger to schedule your visit today!

Ribbon Cuttings

Gold Buyers of Valdosta
1310 Baytree Road Suite A-1
Valdosta, GA 31602
229-244-3330

Pro-Business Enhancement Update

Valdosta And Lowndes Expansion Team (VALET) Chairman, Sue Cox (Covington's Dining & Catering) and Tara Nichols (Chamber) provided an informative presentation to the Chamber Board regarding the history, partnerships and resources available through VALET. VALET is an initiative of IMPACT 2012 to enhance the pro-business environment of Valdosta-Lowndes County. Nichols focused on business resources related to opening a business location, and Cox shared the commitment of VALET members to providing a "No Wrong Door" philosophy when assisting the businesses community. Click here for more information about Pro-Business Enhancement or to download a copy of the "No Wrong Door" Planning and Zoning Guide.

Following the presentation, Tim Carroll (Farmers Home Furniture), led a discussion of the following questions:

What role should local/state government play in creating a pro-business environment?
If you had to name one thing that would improve our local business environment, what would it be?

Points discussed were:

Communication and education of available resources
Government should not compete with businesses in the private sector
Better responsiveness
A unified community that works as a whole
Local government participation in initiatives that could produce pro-business practices

Click here to let us know how you feel about the issues.
Click here to view the Board Presentation.

Helping Your Child Succeed summer presentations kick-off

The Helping Your Child Succeed program was presented at Choices for Life of Georgia, LLC on June 15 with 16 enthused parents in attendance. This event was a tremendous success as LaVerne Rome (Lowndes County Board of Education) and Greg Justice (Regal Marine) shared helpful information with attendees.

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Participants listen attentively as LaVerne Rome (Lowndes County Board of Education) shares 'Building Blocks' for success.

Helping Your Child Succeed summer presentation kick-off schedule continued on Thursday, June 17 at Langdale Place. There were 20 in attendance for this workshop. Shonette Wade, Resident Services Director (Langdale Place) commented, "This was a great training... and gave me a lot to think about as a parent." Many attendees approached Rome after the presentation for more questions and comments.

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