Grants and Apple Festival preparations in financial approvals

Featured Stories, News
Financial

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Several financial approvals came from the Board of Education this week with letters for grants, memorandums, bonds, and the Financial Report for the month.

With October weeks away, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gilmer Chamber utilizing its buses again this year. With an increase in the hourly rate for drivers of the buses, the $56,000 agreement was approved during their regular meeting. The largest event of the year in Gilmer County, the buses typically run between several locations including the downtown area for Apple Arts, the joining event for the Apple Festival, the school’s parking lot for visitors to the festival, and the festival grounds themselves.

The board moved on to grant applications for the College and Career Academy at the Larry Walker Education Center. In support of a $3 million grant for the College and Career Academy, a requirement came up to include a Letter of Support from the Board of Education. The board recently approved the transferring of instructional units in July to bring it into state compliance with  the transfer and phase out of buildings in order to put the state credit earnings in there proper place.

The 2022 bond bus approval and September’s monthly financial report rounded out the meeting’s financial approvals alongside purchasing policy information including additional weights for GHS. Board member Joe Pflueger asked about the purchase after the board spent $40,000 in June on new weights for the high school. The purchase came for replacing broken weights as well as 3 additional weight stations due to high volume of students using and waiting on the original stations. With the three additional stations, nine total are now in use at the high school.

Purchases also include $12,000 in inspections for the school system as the board looks to recover from a recent lightning strike that damaged the main administration building and shining a light on a need for an additional or replacement to generators in the system.

 

Fannin and Gilmer arts organizations awarded vibrant communities grants

Community, Press Release
arts organizations

ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston and the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Georgia Council for the Arts announced that arts organizations in Fannin and Gilmer counties received Vibrant Communities grant awards to support arts programming for fiscal year 2021.

In Fannin County, the Blue Ridge Community Theater received a $5,000 grant to support its 2021 production of “It’s Time for Laughter: Trouble in the Tropicabana.” The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association received a $5,000 grant to support the 2021 Blue Ridge Writers’ Conference. In Gilmer County, the Gilmer Arts & Heritage Association received a $5,000 grant to support its production of “Good Rockin’ Tonight Christmas Show.”

“Our area is rich with creative arts and cultural opportunities, and I am very proud of these organizations and the contributions they make to our community,” said Speaker David Ralston. “These grants demonstrate our continuing commitment to the arts and the opportunities for enrichment and entertainment they provide.”

Image of the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association

“A thriving arts community creates thousands of jobs and contributes to a healthy and diverse economy. The Georgia Council for the Arts is proud to continue to support our state’s arts organizations through the distribution of Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grants,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The arts community needs our support more than ever, and this funding offers immediate assistance in housing and facilitating arts programs that provide meaningful experiences for Georgians.”

Following precedent set by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Georgia Council for the Arts used Peer Review Panels to adjudicate applications. These panels included fellow professionals who are experienced in the arts discipline or type of grant being reviewed, or are Georgia citizens with a record of involvement in arts activities, experience and knowledge.

Georgia’s creative industries have a reported $62.5 billion impact on the economy, generating roughly $37 billion in revenue and accounting for about 200,000 jobs in the state.

Image courtesy of Gilmer Arts & Heritage Association.

The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development whose mission is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts. GCA provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support the vital arts industry, preserve the state’s cultural heritage, increase tourism and nurture strong communities. Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Feature image courtesy of the Blue Ridge Community Theater.

Gilmer Chamber – Pay it Forward Gilmer

Business, Gilmer County Chamber
April 16, 2020
Have you ever pulled up to pay at a drive thru only to find out that your ticket had already been covered? That feeling is the essence of the Pay it Forward Challenge.
Your business can contact the Chamber to get the funds and media package you need to start this process. From there you can begin contacting loyal customers to let them know that they have been gifted a $25 gift card and asking them to pass on the favor.
In receiving a gift card to your business and passing on the favor, customers help business owners continue to generate revenue. Thank you to Faith, Hope, and Charity for providing the funds necessary to get this process started for our local businesses! Contact The Chamber to get your business set up with this program today!
Check out this short video for a more in-depth explanation of the process:
Pay it Forward Gilmer Challenge
Business News
  • Sugars End Dental
  • Queen Law Office LLC
  • C-Scapes, Inc.
  • Lynette Nelson
  • AirMedCare Network
Couldn’t Make it to the April Network Luncheon?
If you were unable to attend our first-ever network Luncheon, no worries! We have pulled video highlights here for you:
Gilmer Chamber April Network Luncheon
Sponsor’s Note
Penelope Marshall with Amicalola EMC shares the impact that AEMC has in Gilmer County and tells what they are doing to keep employees and customers safe at this time.
Gilmer Chamber April Network Luncheon
Keynote Speech
Gilmer County Commission Chair Charlie Paris delivers a State of the County Address.
Gilmer Chamber April Network Luncheon
Membership Update
Membership Manager Ellen Grant lists new members to the Chamber and talks about exciting opportunities coming up for our members.
Gilmer Chamber April Network Luncheon
Chamber Update
President and CEO Paige Green talks about what the Chamber is doing to respond to COVID-19 and shares some exciting opportunities that the Chamber will be offering for our business community.
Good News from Gilmer
Share the Sunshine Challenge Winners
Our Share the Sunshine Contest is still going strong! Here are the individuals that have won so far and the businesses they chose for their $150 gift card. You too can win an awesome prize! Simply share what you’re doing to stay positive with us on Facebook, use #SharetheSunshine, tag the Gilmer Chamber, and make sure your post is public for a chance to win!
  • Kathy Romanick: Heaven Sent Massage
  • Kathleen Hodgens: Mr. P’s
  • Kristin Taffin: Cantabury
  • Janice Clayton: Whimz
  • Laura Wilson: Live the Trail
  • Courtney Keough: Spectra
  • Beau Lowman: ACE
  • Pam Burns: Back Porch Bistro
  • Haley Robinson: Belle’s Boutique
  • Cindy Ashurst-First: Gilmer Food Pantry
  • Jenny Jannsen: Black Bear Antiques
  • DeeAnne Stenberg: Abby’s Ice Cream

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