Southwest Georgia Business Roundup

Sumter launches leadership forum

AMERICUS — The Governmental Affairs Division of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce is starting a new event April 20 with the State of the Community Leadership Forum presented by the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation. Hosted by Georgia Southwestern State University, chamber officials say the event, which they plan to conduct annually, is designed to serve as a public forum for business and industry leaders to hear firsthand the demographic trends, economic development opportunities, and political influences that are shaping Georgia, the region and the Sumter County community.

A coffee and networking reception sponsored by AT&T starts at 7 a.m., with breakfast and a formal program at 7:30 a.m. Georgia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Clark is scheduled to share highlights of the chamber’s Georgia 2030 Initiative, along with the findings that directly affect south Georgia.

After Clark’s remarks, key Sumter County leaders will address how they are engaging around critical issues. Special guests include Sumter County Administrator Bill Twomey, Americus City Manager Steve Kennedy and Sumter County Payroll Development Authority Executive Director Barbara Grogan. The moderated discussion will serve as the business community’s first forum in which to better understand local challenges and growth opportunities from the perspective of the local leadership team, chamber officials say, and questions from the audience will follow their remarks.

Tickets are $20 each, and tables can be purchased for $225. Reservations and ticket purchases can be made by phone at (229) 924-2646, or by email at [email protected].

SWGA Farm Credit distributes profits

BAINBRIDGE — Southwest Georgia Farm Credit has announced it will distribute $4.7 million of its 2016 profits in cash to its member-owners. The association has returned more than $116 million in member dividends since 1991.

“As a cooperative, whose borrowers own the business, it’s important that we create value for our owners, and distributing our profits is one way we do that,” Richard S. Monson, president of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, said. “No other lender in Southwest Georgia offers that value.”

Monson noted that the cash distribution means customers get 100 percent of their share of the association’s profits when declared by the board of directors each year.

“While we serve agriculture, we also finance land, homes with acreage, timberland and other properties you’ll find throughout Southwest Georgia,” Monson said.

Headquartered in Bainbridge, Southwest Georgia Farm Credit supports farmers and farm businesses, as well as rural property owners, with financing. The association is part of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of agricultural and rural lending institutions cooperatively owned by their borrowers.

Lee Business After Hours set

LEESBURG — The Lee County Chamber of Commerce will conduct its Business After Hours event Thursday at Regional Eye Center, 101-A Park St. in Leesburg.

The event is set for 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at Regional Eye Center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In addition to food and door prizes, a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Sumter Chamber presents awards

AMERICUS — The Sumter County Chamber of Commerce presented four major awards Thursday at its 97th annual Awards Celebration, presented by Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and conducted at the Pope Center of South Georgia Technical College.

Speaker at the event was Jackie G. Cushman, who spoke about her 5 Principles for a Successful Life as they relate to business and industry in Sumter County.

The awards included two inaugural recognitions — 2016 Community Partner of the Year and the One Sumter Visionary Impact Award. Winners were Community Partner of the Year, Sumter Broadcasting; Small Business of the Year, Tepuy Activewear; Sparky Reeves Sumter Trustee Award, Malcom Argo; One Sumter Visionary Impact Award, Dr. Charles Patterson.