Even amidst a global pandemic, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce was able to successfully connect business professionals and host relevant programming throughout 2021, said president and CEO Sue Parr.
Parr said membership numbers were still strong throughout the turbulence of 2021.
“Our membership was remained consistent back to 2019,” she said. “We have about 1,200 members and brought in 100 in 2021. A strong membership base is really key to having strong engagement with our business community.”
MORE: Community Leaders Discuss How to Combat Workforce Issues at Chamber Event
MORE: Forecasting Augusta’s economic outlook for 2022
The attendance numbers for 2021’s Chamber events were healthy, too. Parr’s staff clocked about 2,500 attendees to chamber events throughout the year. Those events included Women in Business talks and member economic luncheons.
Much of the benefit of the organization is the engagement, Parr said. Whether that’s networking or learning how to engage with new customers or with the community, its events are tailored to Augusta.
Parr said the pre-planning that goes into chamber events is important, but their flexibility is what allows them to cater to Augusta’s unique business community.
The chamber’s Sept. 29 member economic luncheon featured a panel of local experts discussing the local and nation-wide workforce shortage. That panel was was made up of Cal Wray, president of the Augusta Economic Development Authority; Dr. Jermaine Whirl, president of Augusta Technical College; Brittany Burnett; president of the United Way of the CSRA; and Mary Hayes, founder of WorkBay.
The chamber also recognized its Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals; two of whom (Amber Brantley and Kigwana Cherry) were selected to be a part of GeorgiaTrend.com’s 40 Under 40.
Closing out the year, LOOP Recruiting and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions were chosen as the CSRA’s Small Business and Corporation of the Year, respectively.
[adrotate banner=”55″]
Beyond the Chamber events, though, was the continued partnership between the Chamber and various organizations in the community that look to further the economy at-large of the CSRA.
Parr’s staff assisted the city with developing AugustaSmallBusinessRelief.com, the marketing arm for Augusta-Richmond County’s small business grant relief program. She said they built out the website and portal for businesses seeking grant relief. About 160 businesses have applied for grant relief to the tune of $1.2 million infused into local businesses that were going through a rough patch over the last two years of a pandemic-stricken economy.
Parr also praised the development of Talent2Work.net, a job marketplace that serves to create a centralized, regional technology platform for especially younger job-seekers that are still learning how to market themselves to potential employers.
MORE: Georgia Supreme Court Justice Speaks at Top 10 in 10 Luncheon
MORE: Loop Recruiting, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions named best in business
“There are about 2,000 videos on there available to its members to look at and understand what various jobs are looking for and entail,” Parr said. “It’s a really unique product, and we’ve demonstrated the site to the governor’s office. We showed the technical college system of Georgia as well and we hope they can emulate what we’ve done in a fully state-wide approach.”
Parr said that looking to 2022, there are already some puzzle pieces in place for some of their first quarter events. While details cannot be revealed just yet, Parr said a nationally-recognized speaker will be visiting the area to speak at one of the events.
One thing is certain, though: the programming will continue to be selected with Augusta businesses’ opinions in mind.
“We’re just trying to be relevant and make sure we’re listening to our members,” Parr said. “We conducted a survey at our last Women in Business event and asked attendees to write down the top five topics they wanted to hear about.”
Parr said her staff really tries to integrate chamber membership with the power players in Augusta’s business community, leveraging the expertise found in this community to relevant and educational events and programs all year round.
“Whether it’s an event or in developing programs like Talent2Work, our job is to cross-pollinate information and tell Augusta’s story,” Parr said.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
