| | Leading the way to economic vitality and quality of life in Blue Ridge, McCaysville, Morganton and all of beautiful Fannin County, Georgia. Together we prosper. |
| Two Great Business After Hours Networking Events in August! |
| Tuesday, August 15 – 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 76 Forge Mill Rd., Morganton |
| Tuesday, August 29 – 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 8660 Blue Ridge Dr., Blue Ridge |
Welcome Center to Open in McCaysville The Chamber will open a McCaysville Welcome Center, in partnership with the City of McCaysville, Fannin County and the Ducktown Basin Museum. The Welcome Center will be located at 53 East Market Street on the Toccoa River. Current plans are to open in early September. The Welcome Center will feature old photos and history of the Copper Basin provided by the Ducktown Museum. We are in the process of interviewing part-time employees for the center. If you, or someone you know, is interested in working at the McCaysville center, contact Jode Mull at the Chamber. (706) 632-5680 |
McCaysville’s Riverfront Park Grant Announced Speaker David Ralston recently announced a $500,000 grant for McCaysville’s riverfront park. Pictured here with past Chamber Chair Gilita Carter, Chamber President Jan Hackett and Board Secretary Lisa Vest.
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| Newsworthy…
We made the list! Blue Ridge is #5 out of 8 U.S. places with the best views of this summer’s total solar eclipse. See the story on BravoTV.com! Solar Eclipse Glasses Available at Welcome Center The Chamber has ISO 12312-2 approved solar eclipse glasses for sale at the Welcome Center on Orvin Lance Drive for $1. The glasses are free to our lodging partners for visitors who stay overnight to watch the eclipse. Here are links to some great recent articles about Blue Ridge and our partners. Great coverage! Networking pays off!
The Lunch N Leads group is on fire this year. In the first half of 2017, this group has exchanged around $89,000.00 with the group. Way to go! This group continues to grow by leaps and bounds. For more information on how to join Lunch N Leads, contact Dianne Mallernee.July 2017 Ambassador Recognition Member services would like to recognize Bobby and Debra Amburn with Mountain Laurel Cabin Rentals. This husband and wife team are amazing ambassadors for the Chamber. If they are not working or taking care of family, they are at every event; ribbon cutting, luncheons or business after hours. Thank you for your support!
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Welcome New Members! Capt’n Joe’s Lake Adventures Blue Ridge, GA, 30513 Capt’n Joe’s Lake Adventures offers lake tours, fishing and special events. High Speed Tactical & Safety Solutions Blue Ridge, GA, 30513 David & Kelli Antolini High Speed Tactical & Safety Solutions offers high-quality, easy-to-use and cost effective training programs covering basic first aid through advanced life support. They also offer wilderness first aid and baby sitting safety courses. Lake Country Graphics Blue Ridge, GA, 30513 David La Crosse Lake Country Graphics offers screen-printed apparel, banners, business cards and more. North Georgia Law 282 West Main St. Blue Ridge, GA, 30513 Steve Smith Trane Rental Services 1535 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA, 30329 JD McGuirt Trane Rental Services offers the following rental equipment; air cooled chillers, water cooled chillers, oil free air compressors, generators/power distribution, air handlers, DX Voyagers, cooling towers, vertical tent units, dehumidifiers, vertical life line and spot coolers. |
| Ribbon Cuttings Congratulations! July 25 was the ribbon cutting for High Speed Tactical & Safety Solutions. High Speed Tactical & Safety Solutions offers high-quality, easy-to-use, & cost effective training programs covering basic life support, basic first aid, advanced first aid, CPR & AED, bloodborne pathogens, emergency oxygen, pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid, wilderness first aid, and child & babysitting safety. |
| 25th Anniversary Golf Tournament SPONSOR BOTH NOW AND SAVE!!! Advertise your business at The Chamber’s 25th annual golf tournament, October 2 at Butternut Creek Golf Course with a hole sponsorship. Hole sponsorships are available for $100.00 for the Fall tournament, or $150.00 for both Fall and Spring tournaments and include a sign with your business name placed on the golf course as well as recognition on the program. Anyone interested in being a hole sponsor please contact Kim Foster at kimfoster@tds.net. |
| August Community Events Calendar Recurring Events * Trivia Tuesdays, Fightingtown Tavern * Bingo, Kiwanis Fairgrounds * Trivia Night! Fannin Brewing Company * Pickin’ In Horseshoe Bend Park Saturday |
| HELPFUL INFORMATION FROM FANNIN EMA
Fannin EMA Eclipse Fact Sheet: Local Info
For the first time in nearly 100 years, the sun, Earth and moon will align for a total solar eclipse that will sweep the nation on Aug. 21. In Blue Ridge, you will be able to see the total eclipse for 40 seconds at 2:35 p.m. The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency is planning for thousands of visitors into the Blue Ridge area for Eclipse Weekend. Expect nearly everything to be above capacity for nearly a week total. Residents, businesses and visitors should all be prepared for this historic event by keeping safety in mind. Residents - Start planning now for where you will go to view the eclipse and make sure you’re prepared.
- Prepare in advance to take care of your normal weekend activities.
- Fill your car up with gas and buy groceries before the weekend.
- Even if you do not plan to participate in any eclipse-related activities, expect heavy traffic and extremely busy areas in much of Blue Ridge.
Visitors - Welcome to Fannin County! We hope you have a chance to discover everything the Blue Ridge area has to offer.
- Follow the guidance of local public safety officials and your event organizers. Our local police and fire fighters know their communities and how best to direct you to where you would like to go.
- Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination throughout the weekend. Traffic will be heavy with large crowds going to and from events all weekend.
- Once you get to your eclipse event, stay there until well after the eclipse is over.
- If you are driving during the eclipse, KEEP MOVING. Do not stop your vehicle along any roadway.
- August in Georgia means it will be HOT. Be prepared for extreme heat.
- Make sure you have bottled water, sunscreen, first aid kit, and solar eclipse viewing glasses.
- Call 9-1-1 for life-safety emergencies only.
- Make sure family members or friends back home know your schedule, when you are expected to return and your plan if something happens.
Businesses - Prepare for a big jump in customers. Grocery stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, transportation services, coffee shops, retail stores, urgent care clinics and many other establishments will experience a jump in business. We encourage them to order goods and schedule staff accordingly.
- Merchants may want to adjust hours beginning August 18 through August 21.
- Fannin County schools will be closed on August 21. Be aware of this in case employees need to make schedule adjustments for their children.
- We will have many visitors who are not accustomed to Georgia’s extreme heat and they will be outside for most of the afternoon onAugust 21. Plan to have extra water available for customers looking to stock up in advance.
- Be aware that many visitors will be camping in both authorized and unauthorized locations; expect customers who may be primarily interested in using rest rooms.
- Encourage employees to have a full tank of gas prior to the time visitors begin to arrive in the area. Lines for fuel may occur and you’ll want staff to be able to get to work.
- Be prepared for more cash transactions and potential challenges with credit/debit card transactions taking longer than usual because of increased volumes. Consider having tills set up to accommodate more cash transactions.
- Be prepared for cell service overloads; there may be service disruptions due to the increase in visitors using networks. Visitors may have urgent requests to use your business telephone line if they are having trouble with cell service. Decide how you want to handle these requests and make sure employees know what to do.
- Talk to suppliers. Some suppliers may be considering delivery schedule changes due to the event(s). Suppliers may also be looking at how the increased traffic on rural roads may impact delivery times.
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| Chamber Events Calendar August 2 – Lunch N Leads, Blue Jeans Pizza and Pasta Factory 12:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. August 9 – Ribbon Cutting for American Mobile Dustless Blasting, Chamber of Commerce 10:00 a.m. August 10 – Ribbon Cutting for Lake Country Graphics, Chamber of Commerce 10:00 a.m. August 15 – Business After Hours at Cucina Rustica, 76 Forge Mill Rd., Morganton 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. August 16 – Board of Directors Meeting, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room, Executive Committee Meeting at 11:00 a.m., Board Meeting at 12:00 p.m. August 17 – Ribbon Cutting for Chester’s Provisions, 733 East Main St., Blue Ridge 11:00 a.m. August 24 – Ambassador Lunch, Location TBD 12:00 p.m. August 28 – Tourism Committee Meeting, Chamber of Commerce
12:00 p.m. August 29 – Business After Hours at Mercier Orchards, 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. ________________________ Membership Renewals Thank you! 1st Responders Tactical and Safety Training American Wholesale Print Shop Angelina’s Gourmet Market & Delicatessen Big Jim’s Floors Blinds by Design Blue Ridge Adventure Park Blue Ridge Booksellers Blue Ridge Business & Professional Association Blue Ridge Ghost Tours Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins Blue Ridge Mountain Canopy Adventure at Hells Hollow Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company Blue Ridge Outdoor Exchange Blue Ridge Yamaha & Polaris Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa CitruSolution Clark & Clark, Attorneys at Law Cohutta Cove Mini Golf & Gem Mining DOTSGOOD Fannin Area Children’s Charity Fannin County Heritage Foundation Fannin County Public Library Folger Gas-Blue Ridge Gold Star Estate Sales High Country Picture Framing Howard Jabaley Taxi Service Humble Pie Boutique Jumping Mouse Beads K & S Tank Lines Larry Foster Backhoe, Dozier and Trackhoe Service Lendmark Financial Services McCaysville Drug & Gun Mineral Springs Center Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant Morganton/Mountaintown Baptist Association Mountain Place Realty Mountain River Cabins North Georgia Paper & Specialty Personal Systems Services Premier CPA Services, PC PruittHealth Blue Ridge PruittHealth Hospice (Blue Ridge) R. L. Jennings & Associates Reid Ridge Lodge River Dwelling Rum Cake Lady Bakery and Cuban – Take Out Scooters and More Factory Outlet Scott & Marilyn MacNeill Sequoyah Water | |