From the CEO

Pillars for the New Georgia Economy by Chris Clark, Georgia Chamber President & CEO As we live through the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting recession, we are constantly searching for the basis of a more resilient recovery. Every economist will tell you that successful markets around the world have traditionally, and must continue, to…

How Small Businesses Recover and Become More Resilient by Chris Clark, Georgia Chamber President & CEO Growing up in Fitzgerald, I witnessed the evolution of entrepreneurial spirit as small businesses would open, some close, and new small businesses would take their place. There is an economic cycle of 20-years that supply and demand generally drive….

The Call for Rural Resiliency by Chris Clark, Georgia Chamber President & CEO My Fitzgerald roots ground me and millions of other small-town Americans to a strong work ethic, value of family, and a deep-rooted faith. We believe in community and helping each other through the tough times. And we celebrate in parades and on…

Chambers: The Transcendent Voice of Business By Peter Carter, Georgia Chamber Chairman When I think of today’s economy- riddled with a global pandemic, a strained healthcare system, racial inequalities, rural economic disparity, and a fickle market – it is hard to image a Chamber of Commerce playing a meaningful role. Like so many institutions, Chambers…

What You Can Do As COVID-19 Continues By Chris Clark, President & CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce Political pundits and healthcare researchers can argue second wave or simply a continuation of the original COVID-19 pandemic. However, the fact remains that the virus which hit us so hard in the spring continues to be a potent…

Op-Ed | The Inequality of Opportunity by: Chris Clark, Georgia Chamber President & CEO We are in an important national conversation on systemic racism and the underlying inequality of economic opportunity in America. The Georgia Chamber and the business community will directly engage in dialogue and actively advocate for policies that create long term job…

Immediate Action for A Strong Economic Recovery By Chris Clark, President & CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce In 2008, I was called to Governor Perdue’s office, given the responsibility of Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and immediately challenged to build a budget that would cut spending by 40%. Like all agency…

Free Enterprise Responds By Chris Clark, President & CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce Over the last few weeks, the power of free enterprise has been on full display as companies around the world have shifted, planned, reprogrammed and adjusted to protect employees and customers across a very different economic landscape. At the same time, we…