New Georgia Chamber plan focuses on rural communities (health insurance, living in)

[Airforceguy]

Its about time the chamber of commerce focused on rural Georgia. For too long it has been neglected. It will be interesting to see what initiatives and plans they come up with....

A key element in the plan will involve reaching out to rural Georgia by forming a new committee to address rural issues and, for the first time, opening a regional office to focus on strengthening the rural economy.

Data the chamber began putting together early last year projects that 68 of Georgia's 159 counties will lose population during the next 10 to 15 years. With a disproportionate number of rural Georgians living in poverty and/or lacking health insurance, financially strapped rural hospitals are being forced to shut down.

"We can't have a healthy economy if over half of our counties lose population and close hospitals," chamber President Chris Clark said during the chamber's annual Eggs and Issues breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/n...-on-rural.html

[sedimenjerry]

It's clear that much of Georgia's growth (and elsewhere in the south and the country) is in urban/suburban areas. Rural areas all over the place are losing population. If Georgia can swing things around and at least stop the bleeding, Georgia will be ahead of the curve.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Its about time the chamber of commerce focused on rural Georgia. For too long it has been neglected. It will be interesting to see what initiatives and plans they come up with....

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/n...-on-rural.html

As a guy who is from and dearly loves rural Georgia, I am very glad to hear this.