Chamber of Commerce News

I was recently named the interim president of the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. This responsibility, no doubt, would have made my parents, Andrew Jake and Eva Gude, proud parents. I will work hard to honor them and the assignment.

Their foundation was my guiding force when I set off to see as much of the world as I could within my means. Strength and character, their legacy, also brought me home—to Shady Dale and Monti-cello.

The Chamber of Commerce is the heart of a town. Our businesses. Who are they? What are they doing? Is the Chamber of Commerce networking with industries that could benefit from an association with our local businesses?

The answers to these questions are: Our businesses here in Monticello and Jasper County offer services from A to Z, they do business locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

Yes, the Chamber refers our local businesses to other businesses or consumers relocating to our area, looking for particular goods and services.

The mission is to promote the businesses on our membership list by referring them as possible suppliers in response to requests for goods and services. It is an impressive list. If you are not a member, why don’t you take advantage of a Chamber of Commerce membership and get your business on The List.
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Everybody Has A Story
When people stop in at the Visitors’ Center, stories start to unfold about family or friends from Monticello once they view the historic pictures and interesting information provided by the Center.

The stories are familiar, yet they’re different. They are not only black and white, but they represent many races, cultures, and colors from all points in the world. Visitors call and plan a trip to or through Monticello.

They all want to know “what is there to do or see in Monticello?”

My story of Monticello begins with who we are, when we came to be and points of interest like our walking and riding trails, the small town living, the historic homes and the buildings on the Square, the community-wide events we sponsor, our local cuisine, our scenic byways, our designations as a City of Excellence, A City of Ethics, A Better Hometown, A Preserve America City and then I talk about the warmth and the friendly nature of our citizens.

When we tell our story, people listen and want to know more. They make plans to stop in just to hear more. That’s our tourism, Monticello. The Visitors’ Center, the restaurants, the gift shops, the art gallery, all the stores on the Square and beyond, are sites for stories.

When you see visitors in our town, whether they are walking around the Square or stopping in at our merchants, please put on your best friendly face, say hello and take a little time to listen to their stories. (As a matter of fact collecting stories, local and otherwise, is just how Swamp Gravy began. Colquitt makes hundreds of thousands of tourism dollars just by telling their stories….maybe we can do the same and start to collect some Monticello stories…)

Let me just remind you that tourist dollars are from people who are just visiting…just passing through…don’t even have to get out the roll-a-way bed type of visits…just dollars left here for us to use for the betterment of our community. Yes, it is just that simple.

My predecessor and I were always aware that the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Hometown Program provide an important service in recognizing the value of getting our city involved in Georgia’s second largest industry—tourism.

Groups of all types want to find fun, nature-based activities for the entire family to enjoy and think Monticello and Jasper County provides just the charm and appeal for a good nature-based small town experience. We can capitalize on all of that in a ‘kind and genteel southern way,’ of course, while bringing in revenue from visitors just stopping by on their way to other regional sights of interest and finally home to share a pictorial of their visit to our home town… home to Trisha Yearwood, Odell Thurman and Jason Aldean, etc. Yes, we do have a story to tell!

Annual Dinner
Our annual Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce dinner is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 17, at the Charlie Elliott Conference Center, 563 Elliott Trail, (off Highway 11 North), tickets are available at the Chamber offices or at the door.

I look forward to meeting all of you; members, good friends of Monticello, visitors, neighbors, and those of you who wake each day committed to doing your best to make our community better, stronger and healthier.

I begin my New Year hopeful, blessed, and honored. This will be another good year to promote Monticello.