Atlanta — Community and business leaders were in Atlanta Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with top state officials and sharing the community’s story as part of Albany-Dougherty Day at the Georgia Capitol, an annual legislative event organized by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Keeping the needs and priorities of Albany-Dougherty County and the Albany Area top of mind with our state leaders in Atlanta is important for facilitating opportunities and increasing awareness about our assets as a region,” said Barbara Rivera Holmes, president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. “This week in Atlanta we promoted Albany-Dougherty County, we demonstrated our cross-sector and public-private partnerships, we highlighted our advancements in economic and work force development, and we had important conversations about where we are headed as a community and region, and the role that the state plays in that.”

Members of the locally-elected legislative delegation  — Sen. Freddie Powell Sims and Reps. Gerald Greene, Winfred Dukes, Ed Rynders and Darrel Ealum — participated in the event, presented resolutions to the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives and welcomed members of the community leadership to address both legislative chambers.

Community leadership met with state officials including Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston, University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn and Jay Roberts, director of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“We have been intentional in building and broad strong relationships with our state leaders and having honest discussions about our community, region and state,” Holmes said. “This has facilitated investments and assistance, fostered understanding and respect, and created mutually-beneficial partnerships.”

Albany-Dougherty Day is one component of the chamber’s legislative advocacy program, which includes the development of a state legislative agenda; professional representation at the state and federal Capitols by Cornerstone Government Affairs; and ongoing federal advocacy for Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.

The Albany-Dougherty delegation was made up of members of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce; the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Albany CEO; Albany Technical College; Albany State University; the city of Albany; the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy; Dougherty County; the Dougherty County School System; Georgia Power; Horizons Community Solutions; Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany; and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. The chamber’s legislative program is supported by these partners as well as the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau and Procter & Gamble.

Local leaders will meet with the Congressional delegation in March in Washington, D.C., to discuss federal priorities. Leaders will also meet with officials at the Pentagon.