Retail Development Forum

Retail Development Forum

Over 50 business leaders recently met to discuss strategies for making the community a regional center for retail activity in Northeast Georgia. Coordinated by the Chamber, the event was sponsored by Georgia Power and included commercial real estate professionals, retail developers and officials representing the cities of Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch and Hall County. Facilitated by Brent Hoffman, Prudential Georgia Realty, participants heard presentations by Prudential, the developer TriVest Real Estate, and national retailer Ace Hardware.

“This initiative is about improving the quality of life for all in our community,” said Dick Valentine, United Community Bank, and Chairman of the Chamber’s Retail Development Initiative. “Retail developments create new jobs, investment and generate new sales tax revenue for infrastructure and education projects. “Hall County is already a center for medical and professional services for a 14-county region of Northeast Georgia. We are increasingly becoming a center for the region’s retail needs.”

Presenters shared a targeted marketing strategy needed to market to each retailer’s unique location criteria. The region’s growth rates, median household incomes and traffic patterns make Hall County attractive to retailers. The Chamber’s newly updated website addresses many of the initial selection criteria for retailers. Recent retail developments on Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville were examples discussed to highlight the importance of cooperative efforts between planners and developers to improve traffic flow and the overall quality of the development.

For more information on the Greater Hall Chamber’s Retail Initiative, contact Tim Evans, 770-532-6206. Email: tim@ghcc.com or online at greaterhallchamber.com