Commissioner Steve Bradshaw Secures $100,000 for DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in DeKalb’s 2023 Budget

Commissioner Steve Bradshaw requested allocation of $100,000 for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Recovery Program in 2023 county funds was approved by the Board of Commissioners today.

“Thank you, Commissioner Bradshaw, and DeKalb County, for your continued support of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, said Frankie Atwater Sr., president, and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. “We are very thankful for the opportunity to partner with your office and the county to initiate a program that will grow to provide the essentials critical to maintaining a small business in DeKalb County. By including the $100,000 allocation in the 2023 budget, our elected leaders are making a statement to the region that the success of our small business community is paramount to the economic vitality of DeKalb County.”

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will use the funding to initiate the Chamber’s Small Business Recovery Program. Funding will be used to help small businesses owners with the essentials critical to maintaining a small business in DeKalb County, many of which are in industries still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the three-year disruption in the operational balance of conducting business. This is compounded by additional challenges of current inflation rates and the acquisition of affordable capital for ongoing business needs. These business industries would benefit from an opportunity to connect and access resources to help with resilience planning, contracting and workforce development.

“I have long held the view that DeKalb County should provide some regular financial support to our Chamber of Commerce,” said Commissioner Bradshaw. “When I chaired the COVID-19 Small Business Task Force, I recall that some CARES Act money was allocated to support some Chamber programs during that time, and it made sense to me that sustainable funding from DeKalb County Government was needed to help our Chamber support small businesses on behalf of the County.”

For more information contact Robin Flieg at rlflieg@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-4749.