To better serve the needs of all Georgia citizens, the Georgia Chamber partners with several groups. The Georgia Chamber is proud to share in the goals and successes of these organizations:

Few question the link between business and education. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is working to put both on the same path to excellence. With this in mind, in 1990, the Georgia Chamber worked with the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) to create the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE).

GPEE's reforms efforts are concentrated where it makes the most difference, with policy and governance issues at the state level and community by community at the local level. Through the Georgia 2000 Partnerships and the Next Generation School Project, GPEE is paving the way for true education reform in schools across the state.

See Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education for more information.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs is a substance abuse prevention and education agency that develops programs and materials based on the most current research on drug use and its impact on community.

The Council's mission is to build healthy, stable communities by combating substance abuse, and related problems, through prevention education, information and advocacy.

See The Council on Alcohol and Drugs for more information.

In response to national studies indicating that substance abuse costs businesses $100 billion per year, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce created the Georgia chapter of DRUGS DON'T WORK (DDW), a statewide drug-free workplace program. DDW is implemented through local chambers of commerce. Participating chambers pool community resources to make implementation of a drug-free workplace a simple and cost-effective reality. Upon certification as a drug-free workplace, local businesses can take advantage of the law, enacted by the efforts of the Georgia Chamber, that created a seven and one-half percent premium credit for workers' compensation insurance.

A drug-free workplace not only promotes a business' productivity, competitiveness, and bottom line, but also affords employees and their families drug education, prevention and intervention.

See Drugs Don't Work page for more information.

The Georgia Self Insurer's Association, Inc. founded in 1975, is an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. This statewide membership organization consists of more than 300 firms that represent the interest of employers in Georgia who self-insure Workers' Compensation coverage of their employees.

See Georgia Self Insurer's Association for more information.

Leadership Georgia, the oldest and largest state leadership program, promotes awareness of statewide issues by bringing diverse young leaders from every area of Georgia together to learn more about and discuss current matters. Through five hard-hitting programs, Leadership Georgia, a Georgia Chamber affiliate, allows 120 leaders each year to gain a deeper insight into these issues and prepares these individuals for a more active role in the affairs of Georgia.

Purpose:

If Georgia is to achieve its potential, the people in the cities and suburbs of our state must be aware of the social, economic, education, and governmental need of our rural counties. Likewise, the rural citizens must be knowledgeable and concerned about the problems facing their neighbors in the cities. Through representation in Leadership Georgia by their young leaders, these communities are alerted to each other's problems and to their mutual interests in building a better Georgia. Leadership Georgia seeks out the young, recognized leader in these diverse communities and brings them together. Five hard-hitting programs throughout the year deal with crucial issues facing our towns, cities, suburbs, and rural communities. Together, the participants of Leadership Georgia seek mutual understanding of the problems of the state and their solutions. The participants in Leadership Georgia profit from getting to know each other and from the formal and informal exchange of ideas and experiences. They gain knowledge and understanding from authorities on a wide variety of subjects such as governmental organization, education, private enterprise, natural resources, finance, and rural and urban development. Thus, Leadership Georgia prepares them for a more active role in the affairs of our state.

Program:

The Leadership Georgia program is an educational experience rather than a program of advocacy. It deals with issues confronting our state. Five meetings are scheduled at different locations in the state and consist of two days each in January, March, May, September, and November. A topic of wide concern, under an overall theme, is selected for each program. Outstanding authorities speak and lead discussions designed to provide information and understanding on problems and opportunities in the state.

Selection of Participants:

Participants in Leadership Georgia are selected after consideration of their recognized and potential leadership, geographical location, and recommendations to the Selection Committee by those submitting nominations. The participants typically range in ages from 25 to 45 years old. The group consists of approximately 40 representatives from business, industrial, and professional arena and approximately 20 from other occupations such as religion, education, social services, and government. The Selection Committee strives to achieve a geographical, racial, and occupational diversity in its selections. Spouses of participants are encouraged to attend and take part in every aspect of the program. At the conclusion of a Leadership Georgia year, the young leader will have developed a network of in-depth relationships with other leaders of various backgrounds from through the state and will have gained better insights and broader knowledge of issues facing the state. The individual participants and those whom they touch will profit from the fresh insight, broadened perspective, and motivation gained by the participants through the Leadership Georgia experience. Surely, Georgia will be more dynamic because of this experience.

See Leadership Georgia for more information.

The Georgia Employers' Association is a statewide association that provides a variety of management and human resources services designed to enhance an organization's competitiveness in today's fast paced business environment. We accomplish this by preventing the mistakes that could lead to costly litigation and by offering services and programs through proven partners that favorably impact the bottom line.

See Georgia Employers' Association website for more information.

The purpose of the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee is to ensure the continued economic strength and military viability of Georgia’s defense installations and activities. These installations and activities represent all the military services. Through governmental and community cooperation, the Committee endeavors to assure that Georgia’s military installations remain highly competitive, in terms of economies and efficiencies, for any future base closure considerations.

See Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee for more information.

The Tourism Development Alliance is the Georgia Chamber's newest affiliate member. The Alliance was founded to increase awareness of the importance of tourism to the state's economy as well the benefits to local chambers. The Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia seeks to unify the state's tourism and economic development efforts by encouraging collaboration between the local tourism offices and the many industries that benefit from greater tourism throughout the state.

See Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia website for more information.