Albany Chamber of Commerce to celebrate small businesses

ALBANY — Because area small businesses are so vital to the metro Albany economy and the quality of life in Albany and Dougherty County, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Small Business Celebration this week, culminating with the naming of the Small Business of the Year during a reception on Thursday.

“We’re very excited about being able to host a celebration of our small businesses for an entire week,” said Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Interim President Barbara Rivera Holmes. “Some communities just do a day in honor of small businesses but we’re devoting an entire week to focus on the importance of small businesses in our community.”

According to Holmes, small businesses are crucial to the area’s economy and are an important part of the fabric of the community as a whole.

“Our economy is fueled by industry and small businesses,” said Holmes. “They feed off of each other and you have to have both to have a successful business climate. So, small business week is really an opportunity for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and really the community in general to show support for our small businesses which are the backbone of our community.”

One important focus of the week, Holmes said, was to remind the community about the Chamber’s Think Local campaign which urges local citizens and other businesses to buy as many goods as possible locally, rather than online or in another city.

Think Local, which was launched earlier this year, is geared toward educating area consumers about the impact local spending has on the economy.

By shopping at local stores, especially those businesses that are locally owned, more of the money spent stays in the community through taxes, payroll and and other expenses related to operating the business, such as utilities.

“The Chamber has made it its primary initiative, especially with the Think Local campaign, to promote not just the businesses that are here but to promote our consumers to first utilize their local businesses, their friends, their neighbors, as a shopping destination,” Holmes said. “The benefit in terms of the return to the community from an economic impact is significant.”

In addition to the focus on Think Local, Small Business Week will also feature other events geared toward celebrating area small businesses.

On Tuesday, Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard will read a Small Business Week proclamation, and the following day the Chamber is hosting a Lunch and Learn event focusing on digital marketing at the Albany Welcome Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hosted by UGA Small Business Development Center Director Debbie Finney, the Lunch and Learn will teach area business owners and leaders how to best develop and use mobile and online marketing strategies to connect and engage customers, build customer loyalty and increase profitability.

The event is free for Chamber members and $10 for the general public. Reservations are required and can be made by sending an email to Cassandra Mathis at [email protected].

The highlight of the week long focus on small businesses, however, will be the presentation of the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award.

According to Albany Area of Chamber Small Business Resources Committee Chair Jenny Savelle, the selection committee chooses a winning business and two runners-up as well as giving special recognition to another business.

The businesses that are recognized are chosen based on businesses growth, strategy, customer service, innovation, community involvement, Chamber participation, environmental impact and creativity.

“It is a challenging task for the Small Business Resource Committee to select the winners,” said Savelle. “Because of the quality of the submissions this year the bar is set very high.”

Savelle added that this year marks the third year in a row that the committee has set a record high for nominations and submissions, which she feels is indicative of the strength of the area’s businesses.

“It is very gratifying and encouraging to see all these thriving small businesses in our community,” said Savelle.

The Small Business of the Year presentation will be held at Merry Acres Event Center from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Tickets to the presentation are $35 for Chamber members and $45 for non members. Tables of eight are available for $250. Chamber members can register online and non members should contact Cassandra Mathis at (229) 434-8700 or via email at [email protected].

Small Business Week will wrap up Friday when the Chamber will host a 2 p.m. ribbon cutting for new area business, Aha Unique Boutique, which is located at 1121 Dawson Road.

To learn more about the Chamber, Small Business Week and other Chamber activities visit www.albanyga.com.