DEKALB CHAMBER SAYS MERGER WON’T CUT INT’L ACTIVITIES

THE PROPOSED MERGER OF THE DEKALB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH THE LARGER METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER WOULD NOT RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF THE DEKALB CHAMBER’S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SAID CHERYL C. LEE, THE 1996 CHAIR OF THE DEKALB CHAMBER.

“THE ATLANTA CHAMBER IS KNOWN FOR MAKING A MARK AROUND THE WORLD THAT THIS IS A PLACE TO DO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS,” SHE SAID.  “BUT THE DEKALB CHAMBER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT INVOLVING SMALL AND  MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES IN EXPORTS.”

MS. LEE ADDED THAT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS WOULD INVOLVE AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BY BOTH INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENTS.  “THE STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN DEKALB WON’T BE TAKEN OVER BY THE ATLANTA CHAMBER,” SHE SAID.

THE DEKALB CHAMBER HAS INITIATED AN INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE IN CHAMBLEE, A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT HIGHLIGHTING THE LOCAL MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND  OPENED AN AFRICAN TRADE CENTER AND A GLOBAL RESEARCH CENTER IN DECATUR. IT ALSO HAS LAUNCHED EXPORT INITIATIVES AND PROVIDED MATCH-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES.

 THE ATLANTA CHAMBER HAS FORMAL TIES TO OTHER CHAMBERS AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD AND HAS ORGANIZED NUMEROUS TRADE MISSIONS. IT ALSO HAS HOSTED MANY VISITING DELEGATIONS AS WELL AS ENGAGED IN NUMEROUS RESEARCH PROJECTS.

THE BOARD OF THE DEKALB CHAMBER VOTED JAN. 17 TO DISCUSS WITH ATLANTA CHAMBER OFFICIALS THE POSSIBILITY OF MERGING, AND THE ATLANTA CHAMBER’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL TRACY SHACKELFORD AT THE DEKALB CHAMBER, (404) 378-8000.