The Georgia Chamber of Commerce kicked off its first leg of its Georgia|2050 tour on Tuesday in Douglas, Georgia – the first of five stops in different areas of the state, with more communities expected to be added.
The tour is a chance for the Georgia Chamber to engage with business leaders on how the Georgia Chamber is implementing its five-year strategic plan, aimed at ensuring the state remains primed for business through 2050. The plan is centered around five “Prosperity Pillars”: Talent and Workforce Preparedness, Infrastructure and Energy, Competitiveness and Economic Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Regional Prosperity and Healthy Communities.
“Thanks to the visionary leadership of our 2024 Chair, Pedro Cherry, and 2025 Chair, Ed Elkins, the Georgia Chamber proudly launched Georgia|2050—a bold, strategic initiative designed to shape the future of our state,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “Through Georgia|2050, we’re equipping our members with the tools and insights they need to achieve their business goals while helping ensure Georgia’s legacy of economic excellence endures for generations. 2025 is the start of a journey that will define Georgia’s next 25 years. The Georgia Chamber is excited to begin that journey, and to partner with everyone working to ensure Georgia remains a beacon of opportunity and prosperity.”
In addition to Douglas, the Chamber will be stopping in Dahlonega at the end of May, and Statesboro and West Point in early June. Throughout the next five years, all of the Chamber’s programming, policies and advocacy will focus on alignment with the Prosperity Pillars.
“Georgia has a strong business climate in part because of the integration of the statewide business community, economic development authorities, and elected officials,” said Ed Elkins, the 2025 Chair of the Georgia Chamber and an executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Norfolk Southern. “With Georgia|2050, the Georgia Chamber will build on that success and ensure our grandchildren can enjoy the same opportunities we have today. Norfolk Southern is proud to contribute to Georgia’s future economic success through year one of Georgia|2050.”
The Chamber is fresh off a win in the state legislature after it passed the comprehensive tort reform package supported by Governor Brian Kemp. The passage was not exactly a surprise with the weight of the governor behind it but the Chamber has pushed for tort reform for several years now and this year’s bill passed the State Senate with a unanimous, bipartisan vote, as well as bipartisan support in the House. Over the last decade, the state had quickly climbed the ratings on the lists for concerns with its legal climate, due to massive payouts over claims and other issues.
“For the past 20 years, securing tort reform has been the top legislative priority of the Georgia Chamber,” said Clark. “Thanks to decades of tireless advocacy from Georgia’s families, small businesses, trade groups, the medical community, and every Georgian who wants to protect our economic competitiveness, we are a signature away from achieving that goal.”
