Chamber Programs

BUY LOCAL

The Buy Local campaign is a true community collaborative, not just a Chamber program. The Douglas County Sentinel was a tremendous partner in last year’s Buy Local initiative and will once again be involved in every step of the program. Additionally, Citi TV and DCTV23 stations have committed to making sure residents understand how important their tax dollars are to this community.

“Many residents in our community don’t realize that it is their neighbors who are the small business owners here. They chose to open their business here because they love this community and want to contribute to its success as they succeed,” said Greg Williams, Chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee. “If we shop outside of our own town, what message does that send?”

As a local resident, consider where you spend your dollars each day, whether they are for gas, groceries or goods and services. When you buy local, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more community services through sales tax, and invest in neighborhood
improvement and promote community development.

Top 10 Reasons to BUY Local

1. In today’s economy, local businesses are struggling and your local purchase could make the difference for that business owner to stay open.
2. Create and Keep Jobs! Unemployment is nearly 10% locally. Keeping your dollars local, keeps jobs locally.
3. Sales tax dollars generated each time you spend money inside our community help fund schools, police officers, fire fighters, parks, libraries, recreation programs and street maintenance.
4. Local small businesses are constantly asked to support local charities, athletics, fundraisers and school activities. In return, we need to support them. Spending your money in your community gives business owners the ability to donate to you or your child’s school or nonprofit group.
5. Reduce Environmental Impact. We’re all paying too much for gas! Shopping local generally means saving money on gas, contributing less to congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
6. Local businesses re-invest in their communities. Local businesses tend to bank locally, dine locally, hire local accountants, attorneys and other service providers, and advertise in local media.
7. Encourage Economic Development. Something wonderful happens when local businesses thrive… it attracts more businesses, creating an excellent business culture and enhancing our position as an Entrepreneur Friendly Community!
8. Better jobs and wages. Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and in turn, provide better wages and benefits than most chains do. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally.
9. Local Decision Making. Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. We can’t forget that local business owners are our neighbors, who have a personal, vested interest in the long-term success of this area.
10. Just Imagine: According to the US Census Bureau estimate, there are 90,000 people over the age of 18 in Douglas County (2008). If each one of us spends an additional $50 locally per year, it would generate $4.5 MILLION more into our local economy!

Small Businesses of Excellence

DOWNLOAD THE 2013 SMALL BUSINESSES OF EXCELLENCE APPLICATION HERE!

The Chamber is proud to recognize the important role that small businesses play in Douglas County and its economy. They recognize the work of our Small Business Committee who created the Small Businesses of Excellence designation from what was previously our Small Business of the Quarter Awards.

In the first year of offering the Small Businesses of Excellence, the Chamber received 80 nominations for Chamber member businesses. After being nominated by the community and their peers, each company completed a thorough application covering company information, growth, community involvement and adversity among other criteria. An independent panel of judges composed of Small Business Development Center, professionals, business and community leaders reviewed the applications, met to discuss their findings and make their selections.

2012 Small Businesses of Excellence Winners

Ameriprise Financial

Atlanta’s Finest Catering

Ben Hill Roofing & Siding Co.

Cruise One – The Brooks Team

Gold’s Gym of Douglasville

Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio

NW Georgia Recycling Home

PT Solutions Physical Therapy

Sam & Rosco’s Restaurant & The Centre at Arbor Connection

Principal 4 A Day & Teacher 4 A Day

APPLY TODAY!  Download the 2013 Teacher 4 A Day Application!

Principal 4 A Day and Teacher 4 A Day are programs adopted by Chamber President & CEO, Kali Boatright and DC School Superintendent, Dr. Gordon Pritz. Principal 4 A Day allows members of the business community to visit one of the 35 schools in Douglas County and shadow the principal for either a half day or a full day. Each school principal will be paired with a local member of the business community who will experience a typical day in the principal’s shoes. Teacher 4 A Day is a similar concept but is open to the entire community – anyone can participate and walk in the shoes of a DCSS teacher for a half day.


Guest principals and teachers are exposed to the many exciting programs offered in the schools as well as gaining first-hand insight into the challenges that schools face on a daily basis.

“We feel it is highly important for our business leaders to see what goes on in our schools,” commented Boatright, “many of our members, like myself, have children in the school system, and this is a great way to see what happens after the first bell, but from the other side of the desk. The Chamber is proud to present these programs and is looking forward to sending our businesses and community back to school!”

For more information on these programs or to apply, contact Sara Ray at 770.942.5022.

Chamber Shirt Fridays

Each Friday, the DC Chamber staff proudly sport t-shirts of Chamber Member businesses for Chamber Shirt Friday! Members donate shirts to the Chamber Staff who wear them wherever the day takes them – ribbon cuttings, luncheons, meetings…everywhere! This is a free program for members and a great way to market your business. The pictures are posted on the Chamber Facebook Page and in the Chamber Weekly email with a link to the business website.

For more information or to schedule your Chamber Shirt Friday, contact Sara Ray at 770.942.5022 x 306.

Chamber Raffle

Ticket sales are underway for the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce’s eight annual Chamber Raffle. The 2012 raffle offers nine chances to win more than $15,000 in prizes!

A total of 350 tickets will be sold at $100 each – giving each ticket holder better than a 1 in 40 chance of winning.

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce offices at 6658 Church Street in Douglasville or from Chamber Board members. Drawings will take place in a reverse raffle format on May 31, 2012 at the Centre at Arbor Connection during the Chamber’s monthly AT&T Business After Hours. You do not have to be present to win.

In a reverse raffle, the first ticket drawn is not the winner, but will be worth $100 to the ticket holder. The top prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the lucky person holding the 350th, or last ticket drawn, but that’s not all. The 349th ticket drawn is worth $2,000, and the 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th and 300th tickets drawn will bring ticket holders $500. Tickets may be purchased individually or by groups who want to go together to purchase a lucky ticket.

The mission of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce is to support, promote and attract business for the advancement of our community. The Chamber of Commerce currently serves more than 700 member businesses. For more information please contact the Chamber at 770-942-5022 or come by to purchase a ticket.