ATLANTA – The state’s Chamber of Commerce plans to setup an outpost in south Georgia, signifying the powerful business group’s sharpened focus on the rural corners of the state.

The office, which will open later this year in Tifton, marks the first time in the last century that the downtown Atlanta-based group has opened a regional office.

Chris Clark, who heads the state chamber, said the move represents “a renewed commitment to rural Georgia.”

“We can’t have a healthy economy if over half of our counties lose populations and close hospitals,” said Clark, who is from Fitzgerald.

Clark said the chamber, which has more than 40,000 members, will also launch a committee focused on rural broadband access and other issues, as well as some promotional projects.

Uneven broadband access in rural Georgia and the continuing struggles of small hospitals are expected to be key issues at the Capitol during this legislative session, which started Monday.

Rural legislators praised the chamber’s plans, which Clark announced at the group’s annual Eggs and Issues event held this week.

“I’ve never seen this much focus on rural Georgia, and I think we need to take it and run with it,” said Rep. Jason Shaw, R-Lakeland, who heads the rural caucus.

Rep. Penny Houston, R-Nashville, who represents a portion of Tift County, said the chamber realized something needed to be done to help rural districts like hers.

“We lose some of our brightest people because they go on and don’t come back,” she said. “We’ve got to attract more people to come back home.”

The office will move into the recently vacated Georgia Power building near downtown Tifton, said Brian Marlowe, director of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

Marlowe said the state chamber’s south Georgia presence “gives us a sense that we have a true partner in our economic development efforts.”

“There are times when we feel like we’ve been forgotten about, and I think opening up this office is a clear indication that that’s not the case,” he said.