Published: October 13, 2008 04:27 pm            

The next chapter of a proud history

As I began the journey as the new captain of the famous ship known as your Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce, I am humbled to have been chosen for such a prestigious position. The position isn’t prestigious because of the title, but because of the history and legacy that is behind the position.

I know our history over the last eight years and have lived it with all of our members and other community leaders. I feel safe in saying that your chamber has been at the table of progress and achievement of our greater community since its inception in 1940. So as I begin my second week, I am in awe of all that has gone before and excited to have the opportunity to be a part of our future.

It has been said “that yesterday is history and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and all we have is today.” Our staff and I are clearly focused on today. The feedback from the search process was clear. The members of our great organization and the many stakeholders of our community said loud and clear that our chamber, in collaboration with the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Economic Development Authority, need intense focus on economic development and diversifying our business activity.

That activity must be focused on recruitment of business — both large and small. These new businesses could be large industrial/manufacturing operations balanced with small start-up entrepreneurial businesses. Both the chamber and the Economic Development Authority have distinct roles in this process. By working together, we will be successful. We will also be working closely with our state economic development team as we position our greater Dalton community for the next chapter of our prosperity.

Last week our chairman Tom Bundros discussed the freeport referendum in his column. Let me simply reiterate that the chamber has taken a strong position of support. Without some reduction in the inventory tax (20 percent has been agreed to by all governmental entities) we will not be able to recruit new investment. It is not a matter of simply losing out on some investment opportunities; we will be from the onset omitted from consideration from the list in favor of any one of over 144 counties that do offer some level of freeport.

Why now? The reduction has support from all four governmental entities (rare). The proposed 20 percent reduction is affordable (all taxing jurisdictions have committed to reduce spending by the dollar amount the reduction generates). And the economic climate is conducive to securing new investment from expanding and relocating businesses. Although our community has been blessed by our home grown carpet industry, technology and other productivity enhancements will generate the need for creation of six to ten thousand jobs for our area over the next 10 years.

Another primary area of opportunity that we will be more proactive in is business advocacy. Many have expressed that your chamber should be more proactive in taking positions that are supportive to business and its members. As I discussed previously about our firm supportive position on freeport, we will advocate more strongly on future similar issues that advocate for business. And in advocating for what is good for business, we will also be advocating for what is good for the greater community. I firmly believe that what is good for business is good for the community as a whole. When businesses have the opportunity to invest capital and receive a good return on investment, opportunities for us individually and collectively flourish.

Your chamber recently applied for and received accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Some of you may be asking, “So what? What does that have to do with me or my business?” These are fair questions. Let me try to frame the significance of this achievement. Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, only 298 (4 percent) of these are accredited. Of the 298 that are accredited, 48 achieved the basic level of accreditation, 105 received a 3-star accreditation, 103 received a 4-star accreditation and only 38 received the coveted 5-star accreditation. Your chamber is a 5-star recognized chamber.

This recognition is due to the efforts of many who have gone before us and those who currently serve this community so tirelessly. I mention this recognition in order to say that although we have much to be proud of, our staff and I know that we must earn your approval each and every day. We will be evaluating all current programs to ensure they are relevant. We will seek to advocate on the behalf of business each and every day. And we will work to increase investment of all stakeholders in our community. The old saying that “rising tides float all boats” could not be any more true than in our community.

Once again, let me reiterate how grateful that my family and I are to be a part of this awesome community we call Greater Dalton. As much as I am humbled to have been selected as your chamber president, I am equally encouraged by what’s to come. God bless each of you and God bless our community.



Brian Anderson is president and CEO of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

        

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