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) is fully underway. Signage at the county entrances has been installed, and marketing materials are in the works.
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!
02
Chattooga GICH Team
Chattooga County was recently designated as a GICH Community, and the team has developed three main goals to improve housing:
-
Reduce blight
-
Increase midrange housing inventory
-
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.
​
Mercer Students Conduct Housing Survey
Working with Mercer University and Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Carla Harward coordinated the project to look at the housing inventory in our target area. Mercer student Eva Proels, along with Zoe Bradley, Madi Barnett, and John Matthew Santander worked tirelessly for nine days and finished ahead of schedule.
03
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.
​
Our first Chattooga River Fest was a big success with the kayak paddle, fishing tournament and main attraction: All=American Lumberjack Show in Lyerly, GA. June 10, 2023, we were in Trion, improving on what we had AND adding more!! We had a large time!
-
Kayak Paddle
-
Fishing Tournament
-
Cornhole Tournament
-
Fish Cook-Off
-
FREE KidZone
-
Local music
-
HEADLINER---Atlanta Rhythm Section
SAVE THE DATE!
June 8, 2024---Summerville
ChattoogaRiverGroup.org
