Our Work
some off
Your Chamber is involved in the community, and it shows. From tourism to housing, we are at work helping to keep Chattooga County moving forward for generations to come.
The Chamber is committed to working The Plan---Joint Comprehensive Plan 2021-2025
Appalachian Gateway Community Initiative
Nature. Arts. Community...A recipe for success!
To help communities develop thoughtful strategies around some of Appalachia’s most treasured assets, The Conservation Fund launched the Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative (AGCI) in 2007 with support from ARC and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Chattooga AGCI Team in training!
Olivia Knauss (Paradise Garden), Susan Locklear (Summerville Main Street), Harold Cunningham (Friends of Sloppy Floyd), Jeff Gardner (US Forestry), and Cindy McGraw (Chattooga Chamber) all went through the AGCI workshop at Lake Junaluska, NC Oct 24-27. The project they developed with their coach, Cheryl Smith (Georgia Dept of Agriculture) and the plan of action will be reported over the next several months.
The Chattooga AGCI Team Vision---
We envision vibrant communities with their own character and with a common thread of unity steeped with an appreciation for our local arts and natural resources, branded as one community, proud and strong to be part of the fabric which is Chattooga County, GA.
Photo by Shelia Johnson
The Tooga Theater
The Tooga Theater
Working with the Commissioner's Office, Curtain Call, and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, the Chamber helped to secure funding from the Fox Theatre Institute to restore the facade and have the marquee installed. A fundraising campaign has been started, and other grants are being targeted as resources to completely restore the theater
and Raise The Curtain once again!
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Chattooga GICH Team
Chattooga County was recently designated as a GICH Community, and the team has developed three main goals to improve housing:
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Reduce blight
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Increase midrange housing inventory
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Attract developers
Chattooga GICH Team Trains in Tifton
While the Chattooga AGCI Team trained in the North Carolina mountains, the GICH team enjoyed a fall retreat in south Georgia. Carla Harward (Helping Hands Ending Hunger) led the team of four others: Blake Elsberry (Sole Commissioner), Anita Willingham (United Community Bank), Jerry Braden (The Braden Group), and Sandy Matheson (Primary Healthcare). T facilitation session with Annaka Woodruff (Dept of Community Affairs) took place in Summerville Oct 12th because Ms Woodruff was not able to attend the retreat in Tifton.
They attended several breakout sessions with valuable information about building resilient communities, leveraging comprehensive planning, addressing housing issues, overcoming resistance to affordable housing, and land banking. What may have been the most informative session concerned conducting Housing Needs Assessments and follow-through. This group will be sharing all at the next full team meeting later this month. Carla said, "For all of us, being able to bond was essential. And, with each of these events, we gain insights from other vibrant communities which will prove invaluable for our work....advancing one sustainable community where everyone can thrive."
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Chattooga River Group
The Chattooga River Group was created through a joint effort with the county and the chamber. The group's main goal is to make the river more enjoyable, safer, and a great place to be.
We're ramping up for our next Chattooga River Fest!
Our first one was a big success with the kayak paddle, fishing tournament and main attraction: All=American Lumberjack Show in Lyerly, GA. For 2023, we're improving on what we had AND adding more!!
We'll be in Trion, GA June 10th at the Chattooga River.
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Kayak Paddle
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Fishing Tournament
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Cornhole Tournament
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Fish Cook-Off
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FREE KidZone
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Local music
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HEADLINER---Atlanta Rhythm Section