Convention center releases economic impact numbers

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton Convention Center has released its third quarter economic impact numbers. Through Sept. 30, regional and out of town visitors (such as not wedding or basketball attendees) generated $3.381 million in economic impact for our community. Visitors patronized restaurants, hotels and shops (including gas stations) while attending an event at the center and made purchases supporting local businesses and generating tax revenue for the city and county. The center is a 144,000-square-foot facility at exit 333 off I-75 in Dalton. The facility can accommodate meetings and banquets as small as 10 people up to large consumer shows and Dalton State College basketball games in the 40,000-square-foot Mashburn Arena.

 

Old Tyme Farm Days and Swap Meet festival

LIVE OAK, Fla. – The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) will host Old Tyme Farm Days and Swap Meet this weekend. This year’s meet includes a tractor parade, music, antique farm equipment auction, syrup making, cane grinding, a 1,900 year-old giant California redwood tree with a house carved out inside it valued at $10 million on exhibit, arts and crafts vendors, blacksmith demonstrations, homemade ice cream, antique equipment exhibit, soap making demonstrations, kids’ games, the Kids Music Expo featuring the Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp students and more. For more information, call the SOSMP at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com or go to www.musicliveshere.com.

 

Empty stocking benefits South Georgia      

VALDOSTA, Ga. — More than 1,300 South Georgia children will have a brighter Christmas morning this year thanks to the annual Empty Stocking Fund and the continued generosity of The Valdosta Daily Times’ readers. Salvation Army Lt. Tasha Thomas said the organization will schedule registered parents to pick up items for their children’s Christmas gifts in the days before Christmas. Parents were asked to share what their children would like to have for Christmas during the registration period in October. The Salvation Army shops for the items at Toys ‘R Us then will package the items together by family. Registered parents will receive an appointment time to pick up their Empty Stocking gifts. Last year, the Empty Stocking Fund raised $34,168, said Margie Blanton of Guardian Bank. She has managed the Empty Stocking account for more than a decade. For decades, the Empty Stocking Fund has been ensuring that no Valdosta or Lowndes County youngsters awake Christmas morning to an empty stocking. The Valdosta Daily Times started the Empty Stocking Fund in the mid-20th century. The Times partners with the Salvation Army and Guardian Bank in presenting the Empty Stocking Fund campaign each year. To donate to the Empty Stocking Fund, send contributions to: Empty Stocking Fund, c/o Margie Blanton, Guardian Bank, P.O. Box 3400, Valdosta, Ga. 31604.

 

Downtown Thomasville plans for Small Business Saturday

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The holiday shopping season officially kicks off this weekend and for Downtown Thomasville, the message is simple — Shop Local! Small Business Saturday is Nov. 26, a day that the community is encouraged to forgo national retailers and instead shop the many local businesses that are important to Thomasville’s economic vitality. “Last year’s Small Business Saturday was one of the biggest shopping days of the year in downtown Thomasville,” said April Norton, Main Street Director. “Thomasville is a strong ‘shop local’ community and our downtown thrives off of that. The downtown merchants are ready and eager to open their doors for our community to Shop Local this Saturday.” Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and is a nationally recognized day to celebrate the local businesses that make the town great. It is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “On Saturday, November 26, and anytime you shop local, the money spent in your community stays in your community,” said Norton. “In fact, the economic impact of the U.S. retail industry reports that for every $100 spent in a local business, $58 flows right back into your local economy, versus only $33 when spent at a big chain retailer.” “Our downtown merchants want to thank our community for spending their dollars locally,” said Norton. “Whether you are getting a head start on your holiday shopping or enjoying the downtown Thomasville dining experience, come help your community thrive and Shop Small this Small Business Saturday.” For more information on Downtown Thomasville’s Small Business Saturday or any other downtown event, visit www.facebook.com/downtownthomasville, or call the Main Street Office at (229) 227-7020. For more information on American Express® Small Business Saturday, visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com.