News story published on 06/08/2007

Georgia Chamber fundraising hits halfway point

Atlanta Business Chronicle

ATLANTA, GA -- The Georgia Chamber of Commerce said its capital campaign, known as The Georgia Initiative, has received $4.1 million in committed pledges toward its overall goal of $7.5 million.

The Georgia Initiative is the state chamber's five-year strategic plan designed to move the organization to a new level of prominence and influence as the unified voice of business.

"It is more important than ever that business leaders from all parts of the state work together to achieve common goals," said William H. Linginfelter, CEO of Georgia Banking at Wachovia Bank. "I believe the Georgia Chamber has the potential to play the lead role in forming a strong, positive statewide business coalition that helps accomplish this important objective."

The Georgia Initiative lays out a strategy for increasing capacity and transforming the Georgia Chamber from a primarily reactive organization to a more visible proactive leader, committed to making Georgia a better place to live and work. The plan was crafted from interviews with more than 75 business leaders from around Georgia and has five key strategies:

1. Provide leadership on key statewide business issues.
2. Strengthen technology and expand the capability to communicate.
3. Become the lead voice for business on education and workforce readiness.
4. Seek solutions and implement programs to reduce health care costs for businesses.
5. Promote a healthy state economy by retaining existing industry and attracting new investments and jobs.

The chamber said its fund-raising effort will continue until the total goal has been met, which could come as soon as the fall of 2007.

To learn more about The Georgia Initiative visit www.gainitiative.com.

© 2007 American City Business Hournals, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.