ISSUE

POLICY

ACTIVITIES

Economic Development

The Albany Area Chamber supports economic development and its initiatives to attract new businesses and retain and expand existing industries. The chamber will actively support efforts to revitalize downtown Albany, expand local industries by encouraging further business investment and to attract new more diversified industry to the area.

• Report on economic development activities at each chamber board meeting.
• Work with local elected officials to pass legislation to spur economic development.

Education

The Albany Area Chamber will promote education as an essential component to workforce development and will encourage business involvement in all aspects of education. The chamber will actively support the Dougherty County School System, Albany Technical College, Darton College, and Albany State University as primary providers of well educated and well trained personnel that will enhance attraction of new industries and maintain a qualified workforce.

• Attend Board of Education Meetings and report on issues
• Assist with marketing campaigns
• Sponsor teacher of the year banquet
• Sponsor Education Rise N Shine Breakfast
• Encourage businesses to participate in Partners in Excellence program.

Military

The Albany Chamber of Commerce supports MCLB Albany and recognizes it as a major economic engine. The chamber will actively seek to foster its continued success in Logistics and Material commands. The Chamber also seeks to promote a positive relationship between MCLB Albany and the community.

• Annual Military Affairs Rise N Shine Breakfast
•  Salty Sandbagger Golf Tournament
• Annual Military Affairs Christmas Party
• 48^th Brigade Welcome Home Celebration

Transportation

The Albany Area Chamber supports maintenance, expansion, and development of a regional transportation system to include surface, water, and air components. The chamber will support efforts to improve and maintain transportation into, out of and within the area.

• Host quarterly transportation committee meetings.
• Host annual regional transportation meetings.

ISSUE

POLICY

ACTIVITIES

Economic Development

The Albany Area Chamber supports economic development and its initiatives to attract new business and retain and expand existing industries. The chamber will actively support policies and funding initiatives that encourage business investment and improve business productivity.

• Include economic development items in five year legislative plan.
• Include economic development items on annual legislative agenda.

Education

The Albany Area Chamber will promote public education as an essential component to workforce development and will encourage business involvement in all aspects of education. The chamber will actively lobby the state government for funding of capital projects and expansion of academic program offerings at Albany Technical College, Darton College, and Albany State University.

• Include education initiatives in annual legislative agenda.
• Make advocacy trips to state education agency heads to lobby for local projects and academic program offerings at local institutions.

Tourism

The Albany Area Chamber will promote tourism as a major industry within our region and the state of Georgia. The chamber will actively seek to educate state leadership and executives within the Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism to make Albany and our region a major priority for state tourism efforts.

• Include tourism initiatives in annual legislative agenda.
• Familiarization tours to state agency heads to promote regional tourism.

Transportation

The Albany Area Chamber supports maintenance, expansion, and development of a regional transportation system to include surface, water, and air components. The chamber will lobby state officials for continued funding to improve state transportation routes in and surrounding the Albany area.

• Include transportation initiatives for State Route 133 in annual legislative agenda.
• Lobby for state transportation survey to look at increase capacity for state & federal highways to region.

ISSUE

POLICY

ACTIVITIES

Economic Development

The Albany Area Chamber supports economic development and its initiatives to attract new businesses and retain and expand existing industries. The chamber will lobby federal officials and agencies for funding and assistance to create business investment and improve business productivity.

• Lobbying efforts with federal officials for increase trade and commerce to Albany and region.
• Coordination with Congressional leaders on development issues.

Education

The Albany Area Chamber will promote public education as an essential component to workforce development and will encourage business involvement in all aspects of education. The chamber will actively support all efforts to secure federal funding for educational initiatives for the Albany area.

• Support of local applications for federal assistance with educational issues.

Military

The Albany Area Chamber supports the development and expansion of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany by advocating for increased mission and personnel at the installation. MCLB Albany is recognized as a major economic engine and the chamber will actively seek to foster its continued success in Logistics and Material commands.

• Annual D.C. Fly In and visit to Marine Corps headquarters.
• Partnership with Alliance for Progress in lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.

Transportation

The Albany Area Chamber supports maintenance, expansion, and development of a regional transportation system to include surface, water, and air components. The chamber will actively seek federal funding to maintain and improve routes on the federal highway system and where necessary, to advocate for additional routes to service the area.

• Lobbying federal transportation officials to study providing Albany with direct interstate access via I-185 or I-175.
• Lobby for expansion of U.S. Hwy 19.