Paulding Business Community to be Showcased in Atlanta Thursday

You only hit the big 5-0 once, and while the Paulding Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the reaching of that milestone with an event Thursday, the gathering aims to be far more than a mere celebration.

The Chamber’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is being held in the Murphy Ballroom of Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta.

The event, for which business attire is required, will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. with dinner seating and program beginning at 7. Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is giving keynote address.

Individual tickets to the event are $125, with sponsorships starting at $1,500 and going up to $5,000. Though ticket sales will be cut off Wednesday, those hoping to purchase a sponsorship to receive the full benefits of them — ranging from sponsor listings on advertising and signage, placement in the event program and reserved seating for 10 guests — should contact the Chamber today.

“A big portion of this event is for us, not only an anniversary celebration, but an economic development opportunity as well to showcase to all of the state elected officials — the representatives and state senators and statewide-elected officials — Paulding County and let them know all that we have to offer, and that we’re open for business,” said Kevin Kirby, the Chamber’s director of Member Services.

Chamber officials expect an attendance of about 500, including those from and familiar with Paulding County, and those they hope will learn more about Paulding.

“It is geared toward Paulding — looking back at our past and certainly what the future holds for Paulding, which is the grand reason for us doing this event at the World Congress Center,” said Carolyn S. Delamont, Chamber president/CEO, adding that attending the event will be several past Chamber chairmen and longtime Paulding residents, as well as many of the county’s seasoned and new business leaders.

“[The reasoning behind why] we took out of the county was twofold — to show our county to the state, but also we have grown so fast, we unfortunately don’t have a facility that will hold that many people,” Delamont added. “We’d love to have it here — I’m sure when the next 50 years goes by, there’ll be a place [for it] here in Paulding County.”

In addition to Gingrich’s keynote, the event will feature the awarding of two recognitions – Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year. The latter has been awarded annually since 1969.

For more information on, or to purchase tickets or sponsorships for Thursday’s Anniversary Celebration, contact Kevin Kirby at 770-445-6016 or kkirby@pauldingchamber.org.