Reminder: Small Business of the Year nominations due May 8!

Would you like to nominate a business for our Sixth Annual Small Business of the Year Awards? Last year's winners included Overall Winner Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center; Entrepreneur Category Winner Crezent #Managed Marketing; Growth Category Winner Penco Restoration; and Employer Category Winner Infiniti of South Atlanta.

Presented by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services, the Small Business of the Year Awards are a prestigious recognition that pays tribute to the strength of our small businesses. Also, we will recognize one of our community's small businesses as the outstanding "Small Business of The Year" at the awards ceremony luncheon on October 4, 2017.

Please note that past Overall winners are ineligible for nomination for five years, and past category winners are ineligible for nomination for three years from the date of their award.

You can click here to download the Small Business of the Year application to nominate a business for this award.

Award categories are:

• Entrepreneur Category (1 to 5 employees)

• Growth Category (6 to 19 employees)

• Employer Category (20+ employees)

• Overall Winner

Application deadline for this year’s awards is Monday, May 8, 2017.You may fax information to the Chamber at 770.253.2271 or email cynthia@newnancowetachamber.org. For more information, call 770.253.2270.

NYT Best Selling Author Joshilyn Jackson coming to Newnan June 7!

Book lovers, take note: New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author Joshilyn Jackson will be the featured speaker at our June 7 Women of Prosperity Luncheon at the Newnan Country Club!

Joshilyn is the author of seven novels and a novella, including Gods in Alabama, A Grown-up Kind of Pretty and The Opposite of Everyone. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, won SIBA's novel of the year, received #1 Book Sense Pick three times, won Georgia Author of the Year twice and have been shortlisted for the Townsend Prize three times. She also has a weekly GPB radio show, "Writer to Reader."

The luncheon on June 7 begins at 11:15am with networking, and lunch begins at 11:45am. Cost is $35 for Chamber members and their guests, $50 for General Admission. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP early, no later than Friday, June 2. To register through ChamberMaster now, click here.

Register now for April 27 Coffee Call!

If you haven't yet attended this unique networking event for members, the Coffee Call Business Card Exchange, then mark your calendar for Thursday, April 27, 2017, because it's time to get your business cards together and join us for breakfast! At Coffee Call, you'll want to come hungry and have a great time connecting with other Chamber members while also enjoying scrumptious treats from Waffle House, our food sponsor!

Coffee Call will be held from 8-9am at the Chamber office. A great way to jump start your day, Coffee Call allows you to enjoy coffee and a light breakfast while connecting with vital contacts. This event, sponsored by Waffle House, is free to members and $20 for non-members.

Click here to register for the Coffee Call through ChamberMaster. For more information, call 770-253-2270 or e-mail info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Our next Cocktails and Connections is Friday!

It's time once again for our Young Professionals to meet for their monthly Cocktails & Connections, and this month's event will be Friday, April 21, 2017! Open to those 21-45 and anyone who is young at heart, Cocktails & Connections will be Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at The Cellar, 20 Jefferson St. in Newnan.

All YPs are encouraged to bring their business cards and get ready for a night of networking, appetizers and drinks! Cost to attend is $10, and you may click here to RSVP and register now through ChamberMaster.

Cocktails & Connections is sponsored by Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

"Art and Propaganda" talk coming to UWG April 18

In partnership with the University of West Georgia, the Chamber will be offering another evening of The Other Night School at UWG on April 18 at 6pm at the University of West Georgia in Newnan in the Main Lecture Hall.

The topic will be "Art and Propaganda: The Curious History of Politics and Painting" by Dr. Nathan Rees. The great masterpieces of the Western tradition: timeless expressions of an artist's unique inner vision, right? Not always. Focusing on the revolutionary era of the Enlightenment, Rees will investigate the impact of politics on art. Connecting the dots between art and history reveals how artists were inspired — or outright compelled — by the political forces shaping the world around them. Come explore this other side of art and discover how even the most acclaimed works of art serve as propaganda.

Complimentary wine and beer will be provided, and no reservations are required.

New spring classes: Entrepreneur Success Series

Are you planning to start your own business or know someone who is? This spring, the Newnan-Coweta Chamber is partnering with the University of West Georgia's Richards College of Business and the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center to bring Chamber members and the community a special series of entrepreneur-focused classes, the Entrepreneur Success Series. In this series of five classes, you can gain new information on everything from starting a business and writing a business plan to funding, marketing and managing a business. Classes will be held at the University of West Georgia Newnan Campus, Room 164, on Thursdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. beginning April 27.

Cost for the general public is $199 for the series and $49 for individual sessions. Chamber members are eligible for a discount on classes and can obtain the registration discount codes by contacting the Chamber. UWG Students may attend for free, but registration is required. For information, contact Jane Smith at 678.839.5082.

Classes scheduled as part of the Entrepreneur Success Series include: April 27, PART 1 — STARTING A BUSINESS; May 4, PART 2 — WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN; May 11, PART 3 — FINDING MONEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS; May 18, PART 4 — MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS; and May 25, PART 5 — MANAGING BY THE NUMBERS.  To download a flyer about the series, click here.

Those interested may register now at www.georgiasbdc.org. For more information, contact the Chamber at 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

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May 8 is deadline for Small Business of the Year nominations

Would you like to nominate a business for our Sixth Annual Small Business of the Year Awards? Last year's winners included Overall Winner Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center; Entrepreneur Category Winner Crezent #Managed Marketing; Growth Category Winner Penco Restoration; and Employer Category Winner Infiniti of South Atlanta.

Presented by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services, the Small Business of the Year Awards are a prestigious recognition that pays tribute to the strength of our small businesses. Also, we will recognize one of our community's small businesses as the outstanding "Small Business of The Year" at the awards ceremony luncheon on October 4, 2017.

Please note that past Overall winners are ineligible for nomination for five years, and past category winners are ineligible for nomination for three years from the date of their award.

You can click here to download the Small Business of the Year application to nominate a business for this award.

Award categories are:

• Entrepreneur Category (1 to 5 employees)

• Growth Category (6 to 19 employees)

• Employer Category (20+ employees)

• Overall Winner

Application deadline for this year’s awards is Monday, May 8, 2017.You may fax information to the Chamber at 770.253.2271 or email cynthia@newnancowetachamber.org. For more information, call 770.253.2270.

Learn about the legislative session at Pancakes and Politics!

The Newnan-Coweta Chamber will host a Pancakes and Politics Breakfast on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Newnan Country Club, 1356 Highway 29 North in Newnan.

Members of the Coweta Delegation will participate in a moderated panel led by Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, who will also provide legislative insights from the session. Members of the Coweta Delegation have all been invited to participate and include Senator Matt Brass, Representative Lynn Smith, Representative Josh Bonner, Representative David Stover and Representative Bob Trammell.

Cost is $20 for Chamber members and guests and $50 for general admission. Reservations are due by Monday, April 10. To RSVP now, click here.

LINC trail system is topic of next NuLink Early Bird Forum

Parks Avery

Jim Thomasson

At our next NuLink Early Bird Forum, on April 18, 2017, Parks Avery and Jim Thomasson will provide an update on LINC, the proposed multi-use trail system designed to connect the many areas of Coweta County. The proposed project would create 25 miles of trails in Coweta County.

Avery is co-founder of Avery & Pope Wealth Management, and Thomasson is president of 75 Jackson LLC in Newnan.

The NuLink Early Bird Forum breakfast will be held on April 18, 2017 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd. in Newnan. Admission is $20 for Chamber members and their guests and $50 general admission. Reservations are due by Friday, April 14.

To register now, click here.