Economic Development
Support existing industry to expand product lines, facilities, personnel, equipment.
Support legislation to reduce employers cost for worker’s compensation and healthcare costs. Support Georgia’s right-to-work policy. Support equal employment opportunities.
Support the continued growth and promotion of the agribusiness industry.
Support the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the promotion of international trade opportunities for companies located in Hall County.
Support the Lanier Technical College Georgia QuickStart program and the Georgia Department of Labor in providing a qualified workforce.
Support the continued development of industrial parks by public/private partnerships, including government entities and private companies.
Support environmentally safe industries as defined in EPD state and federal guidelines.
Focus on companies with high investment and high paying jobs, with an emphasis on technology, biotechnology and Class A office space and headquarters.
Support the State of Georgia and efforts to increase economic development through GDITT; Yamacraw; Georgia QuickStart; Georgia Department of Labor; Intellectual Capital Partnership Program; Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and Georgia Research Alliance.
Continue to partner with the brokerage community, Georgia Power Company and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation to further the economic development in Gainesville-Hall County.
Education
Encourage the business community to work in partnership with local educators and programs such as Partnerships in Education, drug-free schools, acceleration of math and science achievements, youth readiness for school programs, high school completion, further introduction of technology and foreign language into classrooms
Support innovative methods of instruction – programs of choice utilized in the Gainesville City School District.
Further the Youth Apprenticeship program and other school-to-work programs in areas of healthcare and technical jobs.
Support continued use of lottery funds for educational purposes, including pre-kindergarten programs, HOPE scholarships, technology advancement programs and teacher education programs.
Support educational opportunities for increasing public awareness of agriculture and technology.
Support the Lanier Career Center and the partnership of the Hall County School System, Lanier Technical College, Georgia Department of Labor and area businesses.
Support the continued use of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education to help fund/build new schools.
Support private education options in Hall County.
Environment
Support a greenspace plan and encourage local government and business leaders to move forward with a funding mechanism.
Support commercial and residential recycling.
Support efforts to protect, preserve and regenerate the natural resources of northeast Georgia.
Support legislation ensuring water conservation and the protection of Lake Sidney Lanier, other water sources in Hall County and the Northeast Georgia Region.
Support the state’s position in the Tri-State Water negotiations and a stormwater initiative that would be equitable to all Hall County citizens.
Support the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District in its efforts to establish water quantity and quality standards for the 16 county region.
Support the efforts of the Lanier Technology and Wastewater Development Authority to provide the needed sewer infrastructure to South Hall County.
Support Hall County’s effort to place sewer infrastructure along Highway 365.
Healthcare
Support the state’s efforts to maximize funding for indigent healthcare through the Medicaid program.
Support implementation of a comprehensive master facility plan, developed collaboratively by Northeast Georgia Medical Center and local physician groups to address healthcare needs for the Northeast Georgia region including South Hall County.
Community Development
Support the promotion and continuation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Infrastructure.
Continue to work with all ethnic, minority and racial groups in Hall County to increase the understanding and cooperation among all citizens.
Work together in solving Hall County’s growth challenges.
Support consolidation of City and County services where feasible in order to avoid duplication of services.
Support regular updates to the Hall County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Support sustainable development based upon the concept of mixed use that includes all aspects of life.
Encourage downtown redevelopment in all municipalities.
Transportation
Support the proposed Atlanta-Charlotte passenger rail service (stop in Gainesville-Hall County) and commuter rail into Atlanta.
Support an East/West highway across North Georgia.
Support alternative State funding for roads based on need.
Support improvements to Gainesville’s Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport.
Support Hall Area Transit Bus System.
Local Priority Projects: relieve traffic congestion within and around the City of Gainesville; construction of the proposed Exit 14 and an upgrade at Exit 16 ; continued efforts to find an alternative location to the downtown Gainesville Green Street Post Office.
Support widening (4 lane) of the following roads leading into Hall County: Athens Highway; Browns Bridge Road; Dawsonville Highway; Cleveland Highway; McEver Road.
Other
Support the evaluation of impact fees and the effect on business/ industry.
Support the Lake Lanier Technology Alliance.
Support the current Georgia flag.
Support the Lanier Olympic Canoe/Kayak and Rowing Venue and programs.
Support the construction of a permanent regional Welcome Center on I-985.
Support efforts of Keep Hall Beautiful for litter control.
For a complete copy of the Greater Hall Chamber Position Paper, call Karen Lobstein, 770-532-6206 or karen@ghcc.com.