A variety of representatives from business and local government gathered on the mezzanine outside Rosemary and Thyme, a few leaning against the railing as conversations bubbled up back and forth.

Chief Scott wore a white suit with blue stripes and a badge, with a bluish teal tie. Sheriff Eric Bryant was in uniform, bearing the gold sheriff’s badge. Kinnamon wore a light blue suit, and the new president of Georgia Southwestern, Dr. Michelle Johnston, wore a darker shade of blue and a pearl necklace. Representatives of Pineland arrived, with the shirts bearing the company name. The doors to Rosemary and Thyme opened, the bright sunlight filtering in through gauzy curtains. Andrew Cook, Chamber Chair, addressed the gathering after everyone had found a seat, welcoming them to the 102 annual Chamber Luncheon.

CEO Amber Batchelor shared highlights. “We were able to share for profit grant opportunities specific to rural development with our members, like the Department of Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant.”

Batchelor also mentioned that they facilitated a meeting of cattleman and ranchers which was hosted by Leatherbrook Holsteins Dairy. She told of the results. “There were presentations for the USDA Rural Development Poultry Business Expansion Program. As a result, after that meeting we hosted, cattleman were able to actually secure volume that they needed for funding in order to build a facility that will service Sumter County.” While the facility will serve Sumter, it will be located in Macon County.

Qaijuan Willis addressed the gathering. “We have begun the development of our Before You Sign the Lease initiative to help business owners avoid major pitfalls and to promote their success in launching a new business or a new business expansion. Often business owners will sign a lease before understanding the zoning requirements, designing a business plan, meeting with the City or County, and having access to proper funding.”

Batchelor shared further updates. “We collaborated with Amazon and Dream.org as well over the last year and a half to help share scholarship opportunities for workers that are age 18 to 45, specifically employed by Sumter County based businesses, to gain additional skills in IT, technology, and energy focus high paying jobs.”

Amber Batchelor also announced her resignation as Chamber CEO. She talked about her time at the Chamber. “The last three years have been absolutely incredible. The Sumter County community is not like any other community I’ve lived in.”

She talked about the merits of the County. “We have amazing resources and intrinsic value that people need to come here and find out about. I was uniquely chosen to be recruited to move to Sumter County, and now I know why. This is my forever home and my forever community. I will be here, just in a different capacity, but my consulting firm will be joining the Chamber of Commerce so that we can support the work that continues to move forward.”

She praised the interim. “Carla Hawkins is identified as the interim CEO for Sumter County, she is a workforce development expert, she has a strong background with people, and businesses and entrepreneurship, and she knows how to run a non-profit organization.”

Batchelor mentioned she wasn’t leaving the role immediately. “I will be here, really behind the scenes, until the Board identifies their new, permanent CEO, and then I will stay on for an additional 10 weeks to help with onboarding.”