Clark, Representative Sam Watson and Representative Ty Harper spoke about recent and upcoming legislation that is geared towards helping rural counties.

TIFTON — The day after the Georgia Chamber of Commerce opened its first regional office in Tifton, the location hosted a State of the Region event.

The May 16 event was part of a statewide, 15-city tour with the goal of reviewing “key outcomes from the 2017 legislative session, highlight current chamber initiatives and provide an update of the issues that are most important” to the state’s business community.

The featured speaker was Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark.

Clark presented a breakdown of which counties were experiencing growth, which were stagnant, and which were declining in the areas of job growth and population growth, advanced manufacturing and agriculture.

Other areas that were highlighted were counties that have a high uninsured population, high poverty rate, high rate of adults not working and a low rate of third grade students who are reading proficiently, which has been used as an indicator of future poverty.

Clark also highlighted which counties have a high percentage of the population over the age of 65 and which counties are expected to have millennial and Generation Z growth.

Rural counties, which the regional office is going to focus on helping, are more likely to have jobs and populations moving away instead of moving in, particularly of millennial and Gen Z populations which will be making up a large percentage of the workforce.

Rural counties also see higher populations of older residents, higher uninsured populations, poverty rates and adults not working, all of which have an effect on attracting and retaining businesses which will spur economic growth while metro and “hub” counties are projected to see most of the future job growth and population growth in the next decade.

“If we know these issues, and we know the concerns, we then have a choice,” said Clark. “Do we ignore them or do we take a proactive approach?

“That’s why we’re here, to help communities and businesses figure out strategies.”

Tift County ranks 58 out of 159 counties in Georgia in population growth from 2015 to 2030, 73 in adults not working, 48 in percentage of the population aged 65 or older, 137 in people living in poverty, and 97 in job growth from 2016 to 2028.

Tyron Spearman introduced guests and speakers, including several elected representatives.

In attendance were Representative Clay Pirkle, Representative Sam Watson, Representative Buddy Harden, Senator Tyler Harper, elected officials from the city and council and Chamber of Commerce presidents and board members from around the region.

Chris Dorman, senior vice president and COO of Tift Regional Health System and Bill Linginfelter, 2017 Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, also spoke.

The event ended with Representatives Harper and Watson giving the attendees a rundown of legislation that is geared towards helping rural counties economically.