Your Chamber

Strong Economic Diversity                           

In 2008 chamber promotes

quality industrial growth!     

On November 3, 2008, the Governor announced that WOODLANDS ALTERNATIVE FUELS would locate a mill to produce wood pellets and chips in Thomas County, creating 50 jobs and investing $1.5 million.    Woodland Alternative Fuels has purchased the former Waverly Minerals facility in Meigs.   The company will use sawmill water and pulpwood to manufacture wood pellets for fuel and   horse bedding.  Approximately 60 percent of the fuel pellets are intended for the export market   for use in power plants.    “It is great to welcome a new industry to our community,” said Don Sims, Chamber President,  especially in these trying times.”  We have already been contacted by two additional potential    locations that would complement Woodlands operation.   

In 2008, BAYLY, INC., a 143 year-old, family owned business completed it’s 31,000 square foot   Thomasville manufacturing facility in the Plantation Oak Industrial Park.  Bayly, previously   headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, manufactures quality uniform headwear for police, postal, military and marching bands.  Their business is highly industrial, with a concentration in the area of heat injection molding processes used to create rigid forms to support hat height and weight.   Two of their long-term customers are the United States Military Academy and the United States military.  Marching bands across the country wear Bayly headgear with their uniforms.   

Thomasville-Thomas County received state certification and was awarded in 2008 the ENTREPRENEURIAL FRIENDLY DESIGNATION by the Georgia Department of Economic   Development.  The chamber led the effort to qualify the community to receive educational support,   grants to assist locally owned companies to create more jobs.   “The chamber went the extra mile in   completing a very complex set of goals to make this program work,” said Bob Hutchison,   Small Business Committee Chairman.    The Entrepreneur Friendly Committee of the chamber awarded the Pacesetter Award to Clifton Eugene “Gene” Hurst and Edna G. Hurst founders of Hurst Boiler & Welding Co., Inc. for their entrepreneurial achievement in industrial development.  The Coolidge based business was started in a garage 40 years ago and now employs over 400 employees.  The quality of the boilers has given   the company name recognition all over the world.  Three generations of the Hurst family have provided vision and leadership.  “We are proud to recognize Hurst Boiler, and more specifically the founders Gene and Edna Hurst, as the first entrepreneurial recipients,” said Clay Campbell, Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.    The Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce strives to advance the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of all our communities. 

Membership in the chamber is a good way to support your community.