Let’s Go…going the distance for Community. Chamber Launches Small Business Incubator Program

“In a press release from Tiffany Fulmer Ott, Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

(GACCE), The Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) awarded their 2023 Emerge Grants for Innovative Programs at the Executive Leadership Conference held at the Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island, GA.

The GACCE Emerge Task Force, in partnership with the Georgia Power Company, announced a new opportunity this year for our chamber members to fund new, innovative programs by offering Emerge Grants for Innovative Programs.

The goal of the program is to reward Chambers that are being creative and innovative in their efforts. Four (4) $2,500 grants were awarded to Chambers seeking to implement an innovative idea or project that will strengthen their organization, enhance member benefits, and/or address a community need.

This year we are proud to present grants to the following Chambers:

Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

These Chambers will present an update on their programs to association members during the 2023 GACCE Board Development Conference in Athens, GA in November 2023.”

We are honored to be the only small-town Chamber of Commerce in the State of Georgia to be awarded this grant. As a result, we are thrilled to announce we are launching a Small Business Incubator Program through our Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber. Our mission is to identify, engage and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams as they begin the journey towards having their own brick and mortar presence in Toccoa.

We invited area entrepreneurs to partner with us in this opportunity to bring their business ideas to reality in the retail storefront arena. The small businesses selected to participate in this pioneer program are: Rose-Hannah Meeks with Rose + Clay – earrings and pottery; Drew Ekback with Red Rock Wood Works – cutting boards, charcuterie boards, trivets, bookmarks, etc.; Cadie Lowery with Caddy’s Car Pals – customized air fresheners; Morgan Wilkinson with Jewelry by Morgan – earrings; Melvia-Lynn Dickinson with The Petal and Vine – decorative wreaths; and Joley Hicks with Peachy Designs – graphic designed t-shirts

Since each business has already established a customer base in our area through various avenues, we want to give them the opportunity to be part of our Chamber of Commerce Small Business Incubator Program with storefront exposure on