The event was attended by local elected officials and business owners.

TIFTON, Ga. — The Georgia Chamber of Commerce made Tifton its second stop April 17 on its 2018 statewide tour.

Georgia Chamber CEO and President Chris Clark spoke to attendees about the chamber’s “8 for 18” initiative.

The initiative “presents the priorities of business leaders of all sizes and defines what it means to be a pro-business candidate,” according to a press release from the chamber.

The initiative, according to Clark, seeks to encourage voters to vote for candidates that are pro-business.

The initiative rates each of the candidates running in the November election by rating them based on eight issues: the business climate, infrastructure, prosperity and diversity, workforce, trade and commerce, healthcare, rural Georgia and entrepreneurship and innovation.

Clark said that Georgia must remain in the top 20 states for legal and business climate rankings, infrastructure must be built, improved and maintained; bolster economic mobility and diverse communities; develop, retain and import a workforce that has the talents and skills to get jobs in Georgia’s industries; emphasize the state’s international commerce standing; ensure all Georgians have access to quality healthcare; reverse the economic decline in rural areas and strengthen the state’s small business atmosphere.

Clark said that these eight priorities will focus momentum on improving the economic prosperity of rural Georgia counties like Tift County.

The chamber has not come out in support of a candidate for governor yet but Clark encouraged attendees to look at the voting record and policy platforms of those running and vote for candidates that will move Georgia in a more prosperous direction.

“Politics drives policy and policy drives prosperity,” Clark said.

Follow Eve Guevara on Twitter @EveGuevaraTTG.