Hubbard, Cohilas sign joint Industry Week proclamation

ALBANY — Mayor Dorothy Hubbard and Dougherty County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas signed a joint proclamation Tuesday as a part of Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week.

The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission celebrates the week annually to honor businesses in southwest Georgia and “promote local industries, create public awareness about the community’s industrial diversity, unite citizens and businesses and promote Albany-Dougherty County as an ideal business location.”

“I think it’s important to recognize the businesses, industries [and the] retail that are all a part of our community,” Hubbard said during the brief proclamation ceremony. “We’ve got a great community that helps us maintain our position as the economic hub of southwest Georgia. It’s important for economic development that the commissions, the chamber, the city and county come together and let the industries that we have here know that they are appreciated.”

Cohilas expressed similar sentiments, adding that these industries “form the bedrock of our employment base and support small businesses as well.”

“If you see sophisticated communities moving forward, they find ways to partner and not work against each other,” Cohilas said. “[The] Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission represents one of those complete partnerships that we have in the community because you have the city, the county and the business community coming together. So I was proud to be a part of today and proud of this partnership.”

Industry Celebration Week will include the EDC’s annual industry awards Wednesday at noon and a Business After Hours event at the Merry Acres Events Center on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m.