The luncheon, co-hosted by the Council for Quality Growth and the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, is an event designed to inform elected officials, business owners, and the public of progress in the community. Mason Zimmerman, the Chairman of the Council for Quality Growth emceed the event held at the Forsyth Conference Center. Zimmerman described the endurance and longevity of progress in the Cumming-Forsyth County area over the past 20 years. Zimmerman was joined by Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt and Forsyth County Board of Education Chairwoman Darla Light, and Board of Commissioners Chairman, R.J. Pete Amos, who also spoke at the event.
Linda Cole, Chairwoman of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, and Senior Vice President of Operations at Scottish Rite, specifically highlighted the employment and investment successes recalling nine new businesses and nine business expansions that resulted in 762 new jobs and $71 million in capital investments in 2012. This year, the county boasts new construction on a 158,000 square-foot courthouse, a 170,000 square-foot jail, a 106,000 square-foot Georgia Army National Guard readiness center. The county has added new fire stations, five new severe weather sirens, and several new parks and recreation amenities.
A major testament to how far Cumming-Forsyth County has come is the population boom the area has experienced over the past 20 years which currently stands at 189,340. The area has dealt with the population growth extremely well, adding six new schools bringing the total to 35 in the district. Congratulations are in order to the school system and Superintendent Buster Evans for 91% graduation rate, which is higher than the state average. Even with growing population and accomplishments, the county still maintains the lowest expenditure per child in Metro-Atlanta.
The economic development that has taken place in the Cumming- Forsyth County area is a key component contributing to the area’s great success. The area was ranked 7th in the country’s fastest growing areas, as well as the 2nd best place to get ahead in America by Forbes Magazine. The praise does not end there, however. CNNmoney.com included the area in their list of the 100 best communities for young people, and the U.S. Census concluded that Cumming-Forsyth County is the most affluent community in Georgia.
Thank you to the city of Cumming and Forsyth County, along with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Comerce for a successful year.
Video coverage of the entire event can be seen below: