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Published Thursday, February 02, 2012 in Business

Special

Guests gathered at the Poplar Grove event center south of Newnan for the Georgia Chamber of Commece’s first 2012 Regional Power Lunch Tuesday. Speaking to the group of area Chamber and business representatives was Georgia Chamber President/CEO Chris Clark.

Georgia Chamber holds Regional Power Lunch in Coweta

From Staff Reports

news@newnan.com

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce held its first 2012 Regional Power Lunch in Coweta County on Tuesday, at the Poplar Grove event center south of Newnan.

Speaking to the group was Georgia Chamber President/CEO Chris Clark.

Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce and its president, Candace Boothby, were the hosts for the event.

Among points covered by Clark were the Georgia Chamber's near-term goals:

• A successful legislative session.

-- Support Governor Deal's GCI recommendations, which include funding for reservoirs, update economic incentives and invest in education.

-- Enact meaningful regulatory reforms.

-- Expand access to venture capital.

-- Modernize our tax code and eliminate the sales tax on energy used for mining, manufacturing and agriculture.

-- Allow for state funding of charter schools.

• Passing the TSPLOST.

Clark addressed the regional transportation special purpose sales tax referendums to be held later this year. He said it is the single biggest economic development opportunity facing our state.

• Deepening the port.

Deepening the Savannah River shipping channel is another tremendous economic development opportunity for Georgia.

There is unprecedented collaboration between federal, state and city of Atlanta officials to get this done, he said.

• Continuing to focus on providing value for all the Georgia Chamber's members.

Clark also introduced results from the 2011 Georgia Competitiveness Initiative.

Through discussions with other business leaders around the state the Georgia Chamber has started to form a new and exciting path for the future, Clark said, one that helps: keep and attract world class talent, maintain a high quality of life, help Georgia become a global gateway, compel more companies to locate their headquarters here and to finally develop a real strategy for rural economic growth.

He mentioned six key areas of focus: Education and talent development, innovation and technology, global commerce and economic development, infrastructure and quality of life, governance and management, and business climate.