The state and local chamber do different things and get different results. There is no duplication or conflict. But, only the state chamber advocates the business position when legislation is debated and passed in the Georgia Legislature.

Local Chambers

Are the lifeblood of the community, they:

• Partner with the Georgia Chamber to lobby for business at the state capitol.
• Serve a prescribed geographical area, such as a city or county.
• Have the most influence with elected officials who represent their community.
• Have a busy agenda and limited staff that sometimes does not allow them to research and interpret the full range of legislative activities. They often rely on the Georgia Chamber for this service.
• Are so important, the Georgia Chamber encourages joining the local chamber first, then the state chamber.

The State Chamber

The Georgia Chamber has a different mission from local chambers because it:

• Aggressively and actively lobbies for business at the Georgia Legislature and monitors rules and regulations issued by state agencies that affect business.
• Carefully cultivates political allies, throughout the state.
• Employs a team of professional lobbyists who work year round on public policy issues.
• Publishes the yearly Legislative Voting Reference, showing how every member of the Georgia General Assembly voted on key business issues.
• Benefits from the support and influence provided by local chambers.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the only group that aggressively lobbies state government on generic business issues, the ones that affect a company's bottom line.