Discover Our History and Achievements
Our organization continues to be the leader in economic development, advocacy on issues of interest to business and engaging business leaders to ensure the long term economic health of our community.
Our community is located just northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The County was partitioned in 1832 from a section of Cherokee County territory along with nine other counties in the area. Forsyth County was named for John Forsyth, Governor of Georgia from 1827 – 1829.
Cumming and Forsyth County, Georgia are consistently ranked among the most desirable communities in the nation. World class schools, nationally recognized parks, over 200 miles of lake shore line, the lowest property taxes in the region and a vibrant business community are the primary factors that earn the community accolades year after year.
Recognitions and Awards
We are proud to have received numerous recognitions and awards for our excellence and leadership in economic development.
Top 10 Communities in America (& #1 in Georgia) for Incoming Investment
Smart Asset
Top 20 Fastest-Growing Counties in America (& #1 in Georgia)
US Census
Top 20 Affluent Counties in America (& #1 in Georgia)
US Census
Most Innovative Community in Georgia
Innovation Index: Technology Association of Georgia
Top 10 Cities to Start a Business
NerdWallet.com
# 1 Community in Georgia for Incoming Investment
SmartAsset.com
Top Five Communities to “Get Ahead”
Forbes.com
Healthiest County in Georgia
University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
Top 10 Most Charming Towns in Georgia
Travel Magazine
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Counties in America
CNNMoney.com
Top 20 Wealthiest Counties in America
Forbes.com
Top 100 Best Communities for Young People
America’s Promise/Alliance for Youth
Membership
Welcome new friend of the Forsyth County Chamber. I want to congratulate you on taking the next step in developing a strong and profitable business. Your investment in the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is a vital step in that process. Forbes.com recently released a study that showed consumers are 70 percent more likely to do business with a Chamber member over a non-chamber member because they believe it brings instant credibility.
As a new member of the Forsyth County Chamber, you will enjoy many perks offered to help you get the most value out of our working relationship. Our goal is to create an environment and atmosphere of growth and success that you can easily tap into. Whatever value you hope to gain as a member of the Chamber, we can create a game plan to help you on your journey.
Over the course of the next 12 months, you will be offered the opportunity to take advantage of more than 125 Chamber-hosted events. These events cover networking, education classes and seminars, community outreach and quality of life information sessions. Don’t be overwhelmed- your personal Membership Services Representative will be there to guide you on your way. To find out more about what the Chamber is doing in the areas of business development and tourism CLICK HERE and HERE.
Over the past sixty years, we have become experts in economic opportunity and growth. The Chamber exists to be the voice of business that will foster a strong economic environment and a superior quality of life in Forsyth County. Our 1,000+members that stretch across six states would tell you that Chamber membership is one of the most important investments you can make in your business and in your community. We appreciate your trust in our mission. You are making a great business decision!
Member Benefits
Focus
Our model of building partnerships for economic development, tourism, and community development positions your Chamber as the leading organization to address the business, economic and civic issues that are critical to the community.
Making Connections
The Chamber is dedicated to connecting business people with the resources that will help them grow and develop. Whether you are a sole proprietor start-up or a large firm with an international operation, the Chamber will connect you with the data, information and professional expertise to achieve your goals.
Advocacy
We have influence in the decisions facing our community. The Chamber has been an outspoken voice and leader in the widening Georgia 400, ensuring a business friendly regulatory environment and safeguarding our access to water.
Growing Economic Opportunity
The Chamber is the sole economic development entity for Cumming and Forsyth County. We are focused on working with existing firms to assist them in growth and recruiting new businesses to our community. The organization has a long track record of success and have a focused plan for future growth.
Chairman’s Cabinet
The Chairman's Cabinet represents businesses and individuals who have chosen to invest in the Forsyth County Chamber at a higher level to ensure the voice of business is heard. They are also leaders in the community that invest time and money toward job creation, quality of life, workforce development and marketing goals of the community's economic development partners.
The direction provided by this committed group of professionals has become the foundation for the economic well-being of Forsyth County.
Surrounded by success through the Chairman's Cabinet, the most powerful and influential of Forsyth County's business leaders have found a common ground in which to share ideas, develop county-wide initiatives and offer a hand up to emerging businesses that are now making their impact in our community.
Membership in the Chairman's Cabinet puts you among these dedicated voices and offers you the opportunity to become involved in the Forsyth County Chamber at a higher level.
Why Chairman’s Cabinet?
We are the major driver behind many initiatives and your membership dollars help support that at the Chairman’s Cabinet level. The greater your involvement and support, the more we can do to better the community.
We are the sole economic development entity in the community
We are the tourism entity in the community.
Primary driver behind the “Propel Initiative” (raise graduation rate to 95%)
Primary voice in community for great schools that lead the nation
Primary driver behind the “Business First” Initiative
Unifying voice within the community
Dear Fellow Chamber Members,
I am honored to serve our business community during such an exciting and pivotal time in the history of Forsyth County. By virtually every measure, we live in one of the greatest communities in Georgia and one of the most celebrated regions in the nation. Outstanding neighborhoods do not develop by chance. They are built on a foundation of leadership and partnerships. The Chamber serves as an integral part of fostering and facilitating these elements in our area.
Our community’s future is bright—largely because of the 16 commercial project announcements in Forsyth County last year. These relocation or expansion developments generated $106 million in new capital investment and approximately 630 jobs in 2023. Additionally, a $2 billion destination endeavor known as “The Gathering at South Forsyth” continues to draw excitement.
The top concern expressed by nearly every business the Chamber engages with continues to be accessing and retaining talent. 2023 marked the first year of the Chamber’s partnership with Forsyth County Schools to hire a Director of Workforce Development charged with leading the FOCOWorks initiative. Some remarkable steps were taken to support employers in addressing their number one problem. We will continue building on early successes in creating solutions for employers.
New leadership is driving the Chamber’s tourism development work, Discover FOCO. 2023 was a solid year of growth for tourism with the addition of a new landmark hotel at Halcyon. This momentum is expected to continue in 2024 with anticipated announcements of at least one new hotel property, destination restaurants, breweries, and sports venues.
The Chamber is leading the initiative in 2024 to create Forsyth County’s second Community Improvement District (CID) at Exit 14 (Ga. 20) and Marketplace Boulevard. We can expect once the CID is up and running, it will provide similar projects to the South Forsyth CID at Exit 12 (McFarland Road). Which includes much-needed beautification, landscaping, congestion reduction and road-safety improvements.
In closing, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Board for the Chamber. In 2023, we saw this organization is our community’s venue to channel the incredible collective resources of great businesspeople to find solutions and create economic opportunity. To achieve the Chamber’s goals, we require support from many sources, but it all begins with you. Thus, I extend my sincere gratitude for your commitment to the Chamber, Forsyth County and look forward to our continued collaboration in 2024.
Our team
Get to know the leaders guiding the Chamber
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Development
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Officer
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2024 Executive Officers
Cooper & Company
The First Bank
Smith & Howard
Holiday Inn Express Johns Creek/Suwanee
State Farm Insurance
Renassant Bank
2024 Board of Directors
Northpoint Mortgage
Alliance Academy
Home2 Suites
UNG
Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
Equifax
Cherry Street Brewing
Development Authority
Cumming Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Forsyth Academy of Performing Arts
Forsyth County Public Library
2024 Board of Directors
Sawnee EMC
Absolute Pool
McDonald Development Co.
Sawnee Mountain Foundation
AT&T
Oak Bridge Insurance
Vertical Earth
Synovus Bank
Atlanta Landscape Group
Comcast
Tam’s Backstage
Kaiser Permanente
2024 Board of Directors
Citizens Bank
Martin Marietta
Warren Averett CPAs & Advisors
iSprings Water
Frazier & Deeter
South Forsyth CID
Financial Consultants Group
TriScapes
Forsyth County
Encompass Health
Syensqo
BBQ Guys
2024 Board of Directors
Superintendent, Forsyth County Schools
Pinnacle Financial
President, Lanier Tech
Five Star Painting
Jacobs
Forsyth County News
Crosby Design Group
City of Cumming
AGL Resources
Siemens
Forsyth County Board of Education
Emeritus Council
Johnston & Associates
Forte Data Systems
Georgia Power - Retired
Brandywine Printing
Miles, Hansford, & Tallant
Northside Hospital Forsyth
Wilson Hutchinson
Hayes James & Associates
A.C. Poultry Company
Fisher & Phillips, LLP
Associate Directors
Raymond James
Pinecrest Academy
Eclipse Networks
The First Bank
Commercial Disaster Recovery
Bryan Properties
2024 Ex-Officio Members
Forsyth County Sheriff
State Representative
State Representative
State Senator
State Senator
State Representative
State Representative
State Representative
State Representative
Become part of the Chamber today
Experience the benefits of being part of our thriving business community.
