Why Should You Join?

Your Community Ambassador

The Chamber is the front door of Thomaston-Upson County. We provide information to newcomers about you and your business. This is done in part by distributing brochures and the Chamber website. We refer only Chamber members for services, and these referrals mean business for your business.

We UNITE our Community & Members

In the Chamber, economic development is the bottom line. Through the Chamber's Unite Division, we partner with the Industrial Development Authority, the City and the County to attract new business and industry, while aggressively promoting the established business sector. By recruiting new business, more jobs are created and in turn, increases the community's market potential for you. We meet with our local industry leaders and Small Business owners each month, as well as meeting quarterly with our local and state Government officials to stay on top of issues that could negatively affect our community.

We PROMOTE our Members

Through our Promote Division of the Chamber, we publicize our Chamber Members through our quarterly Business After Hours events, Sun’s Up Breakfast meetings and Shop Thomaston Program. We also promote members in our weekly Monday Minutes event email and on Facebook Page, as well as, holding ribbon cuttings throughout the year and by producing a community calendar that is utilized by our Chamber Members to promote their upcoming events. You will find a full Chamber Membership list located on our website. Looking for ways to network your business, become a Chamber Ambassador! Ambassadors are the face of the Chamber of Commerce and community!

We ENHANCE our Community for our Members

Like we said, the Chamber promotes Economic Development in Upson County and promoting Tourism in our community is no different. We are a Camera Ready Community and in 2013 The Walking Dead Series filmed their Mid-Season Finale at Sprewell Bluff Park and then in October, the Lions Gate Trilogy “The Hunger Games, MockingJay Part 1” filmed in one of our old textile mills on Goodrich Avenue. We strive every day to give tourists wonderful opportunities to visit Upson County and see the many assets of our community. We continually work hard to improve Thomaston-Upson County's business climate and diligently work for positive community change. That’s why the Chamber also facilitates the Youth and Adult Leadership Upson programs in our community. It is our hope to bring out the leadership potential in all that participate in these programs.

We ORGANIZE Events for the Community & Members

The Chamber hosts a variety of events for the Community & Chamber Members each year, including the Annual Chamber Golf Tournament held in March, the Flint River Poker Float in May and the first Thursday in September each year we hold the Annual Business Expo at our local Civic Center. The Chamber also holds an Annual Chamber Dinner and Awards Banquet each year in November to recognize deserving Chamber and Community Members that go out of their way to make our community a better place to live, work and do business.

How We Operate

As a member, you will help elect a Board of Directors who will determine policy and programs. Together, you and the Board will provide manpower and finances to address those areas of concern as determined by you and other members and clearly identified in our annual program of work. Our Mission of the Chamber is to Unite, Promote and Enhance our membership and the Quality of Life for everyone in Upson County, so our divisions within the Chamber are actually broken down into these these three committees, as well as Organizational Performance that includes our Special Events -- Each have of these committees have sub-committees that recommend policy and programs and carry out the projects approved by the Board. The trained staff provides leadership, advisory, technical, research and clerical assistance.

What We Are

The Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce is an organization of over 300 businesses and professional men and women who have joined together to work for the solution of our mutual business and community challenges. By working with others, industry leaders and small business people can have clout to get things done. Each year, the members of the Chamber Board come together for a planning retreat, where programs and projects are carefully evaluated and planned by business people with the same interests and challenges as you, yourself face.

The Financial Aspect

The Chamber is financed through membership investments and special projects implemented by members and staff. Membership investments range from $61 to as high as $3,000. Chamber investments are deductible as a legitimate business expense. The City and County make contributions from Hotel/Motel Tax that is used to promote Tourism in Upson County.

CLICK HERE to see a Dues Investment Schedule

Mission Statement

The Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce unites our members and the community by promoting strategic economic growth, enhancing the quality of life and creating a positive business climate for Upson County.

We United ~ We Promote ~We Enhance
WE MEAN BUSINESS

So...Why Join?

Because you make money here. This community is providing you a living. No one is required to do business with you -- they do so voluntarily. Similarly, you should join the Chamber voluntarily, so that you can help the community that has already helped you.

Because you want to make more money here. By being a member, you help the Chamber succeed in helping your market grow. You strengthen the Chamber's efforts to make the conditions in this market good for your business. This helps our community become more prosperous, which means your customers have more money to spend with you, and you eventually have more customers.

Because Chamber membership offers you opportunity. You can attend many events each year which give you the opportunity to meet other area business people, to tell them about you and your business and what your business has to offer them and you can also be a part of the Shop Thomaston Gift Certificate Program and submit items for the Chamber Newsletters and Monday Minutes.

Because you make a difference. Your investment is important to the Chamber's operation, whether or not you have time to work on a committee.

Because your Chamber membership shows your customers that you care about the future of our area.

Join the Chamber **and make a difference in Your Community.**

Please CLICK HERE to download our membership application. Please note that it is in PDF format, and that you may download the reader by clicking the link below: