Local business leaders, chairpersons of various city councils and many other members of the Effingham County community descended upon Atlanta earlier this week to celebrate Effingham Chamber Day at the Capitol, an event that once again proved to be both a great time and a good experience.

Attendees of the Effingham Chamber Day at the Capitol were able to speak with various business leaders while dining, enjoying the sights and visiting with local politicians in the Capitol Building in downtown Atlanta.

“Effingham Chamber Day at the Capitol is a crucial event to highlight the needs of our county,” Chamber President Barbara Prosser said. “This event gives the citizens of Effingham County a chance to meet the department heads and elected officials of the State of Georgia and send a positive message to them about our county. It also gives us a chance to show them what goes on in Effingham County.”

The event began on Monday morning when attendees were able to see a Georgia House of Representatives session from the House Gallery in the Capitol Building. The day continued later in the afternoon as everyone met up at the Freight Depot at the Motor Lobby near the Capitol for food, drinks and a bit of ‘mingling’ and fellowship amongst other attendees, including interns of Georgia politicians and their families.

Once the reception was over, Effingham County attendees met for a second get-together in the Hospitality Room of the Ritz Carlton, where the fellowship continued.

On Tuesday morning, attendees made their way back to the Capitol for breakfast and various State and Legislative updates. Speaking were Commissioner Gary Black (Georgia Department of Agriculture), Commissioner Lynne Riley (Georgia Department of Revenue), Superintendent Richard Woods (Georgia Department of Education), Sen. Jack Hill (Senate Appropriations Chairman), Speaker David Ralston (Georgia House of Representatives), Commissioner Ralph Hudgens (Georgia Insurance Commissioner), Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Rep. Jon Burns (House Majority Leader), Rep. Bill Hitchens (Chairman, Defense and Veterans Affairs), Director Richard Dunn and Deputy Director Lauren Curry (Department of Natural Resources-Environmental Protection Division), Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Commissioner Russell McMurry (Georgia Department of Transportation).

After meeting and listening to the various presentations and updates, the attendees gathered for a photo with Gov. Nathan Deal and ended the 2017 Effingham Chamber Day at the Capitol.

Sponsors for this year were Effingham Industrial Development Authority, Georgia-Pacific and Joe Marchese Construction Company.