Friday Feature: 'Communities Need the Organized, Vibrant Voice and Partnership'

Some residents may not know it, but they are probably familiar with many of the faces that make up the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce. That’s because those behind the organization are local franchise and business owners.

Recognizing the faces is the easy part, but knowing what the chamber does requires a bit more knowledge.

Chambers support their communities because they benefit local businesses by benefiting chamber members. Meetings are a good place for associates from different organizations to form connections.

The chair of the chamber is Joe Hicks, with Jackson Electric Membership Corporation. He’s been part of the chamber for five years and notes the benefits of the group on a large and small scale.

“The Barrow chamber provides an organized voice and resources for businesses (both) large and small,” Hicks said. “This voice reaches not only the local community, it also extends to a state and national level as needed.”

Eric Bentley, maager of Fort Yargo State Park, has been with the chamber since January. He said the park has benefited because the chamber serves as a connection point linking those wishing to do business in Barrow County to the community.

 “(Chambers) serve as a place where new businesses can plug-in and find out more about other local businesses, possible customer base and possible opportunities for relocation here if they are currently located somewhere else,” Bentley said.

In addition to the chamber being a source for contacts, Brad Bishoff of finds other areas beneficial to his branch.

“Business communications are helped if you’re in need of a vendor or if you’re selling something,” Bishoff said. “It’s good to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the community.”

Events that chambers are involved with include networking sessions, seminars, luncheons, business shows and other major events. The primary focus of a chamber of commerce is to help increase and develop businesses.

Bentley added that it’s a give-and-take relationship between the community and how it benefits Fort Yargo.

“Benefits for us at the park have been a place where the public can stop in and find out about local restaurants and shopping opportunities while they are here,” he said. “It also works in reverse where people may be traveling on business and staying locally, but did not realize the recreational opportunities at Fort Yargo.”

Hicks believes the chamber provides businesses with an area for education, networking and marketing, among other areas.

“The chamber also works to promote economic development and job creation and growth,” he said. “Communities need the organized, vibrant voice and partnership that a local chamber provides.”

Residents may expect their community to have a chamber for many years to come, as Hicks said changes are always in store and the group will always keep the county at the forefront of its mind.

“The chamber of commerce is constantly evolving existing programs and also developing new ones to provide our members with extraordinary benefits,” he said. “A business owner must focus on running their business. The chamber exists to provide resources that business owners may not (have) access to on their own.”

The Barrow County Chamber of Commerce is headquartered in the Historic Train Depot in downtown Winder. To contact the chamber, call 770-867-9444 or visit www.barrowchamber.com.