henrycounty.com a henry county chamber of commerce publication
YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS
SEPTEMBER 2014
Hampton • Locust Grove • McDonough • Stockbridge
in this issue
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Chairman’s Message 2 Business Profile 3 Calendar 4 SBDC 5 Chamber Briefs 6 Leadership Henry 6 Youth Leadership Henry 6 Henry Happenings 7 Chamber Membership 10 Business After Hours 11 Business Boosters Luncheon 12 Ribbon Cuttings 13
Comfortably South of Atlanta The Henry County Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice for the business community, provides quality services and programs that meet the needs of its members, improves the economic environment of the community and creates a legacy of leadership for the future.
Chamber Members support Chamber members? In fact, Chamber member are encouraged to attract business by offering member-to-member discounts. Contact us today 770-957-5786 to become a member. #ShopHenry
NOT A SLEEPING GIANT
We all know about the heart-pounding action of the NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway each Labor Day Weekend, but are you aware that AMS is a hive of activity more than 200 days a year? This huge sporting facility, which is actually the largest sporting event venue in the Southeast, encompasses 887 acres. In addition to the track facility, it is surrounded by huge parking lots, both paved and grass, fields, woods and a network of small roads that have attracted large running/obstacle course events like the incredibly popular “Color Run” which had more than 25,000 participants and just-for-fun races like the “Bacon Chase”, “Foamfest” and “Neon Dash”. The track itself is a thing worth seeing. For only $5 you can get a tour of the Speedway, which provides a chance to see the NASCAR control room, NASCAR Victory Lane and ride the high banks of the famed NASCAR speedway. In fact, the infield where the garages
and media center are located, is large enough to hold two versions of Turner Field, or ten Philips Arenas or three Georgia Domes. The sheer size of the AMS facility makes it particularly attractive for a wide variety of events. The huge garages host a large children’s items consignment sale twice a year, health fairs, outdoor expos, camping shows and of course car shows. Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama debuted last year to rave reviews featuring 1,200 display vehicles and nearly 15,000 attendees. The entire infield, as well as most of the property, was utilized last year for a huge rally of 2,500 RVers who spent a week exploring Henry County. There are also multiple spaces available for rent for special events such as weddings, parties and corporate outings. The size of the grounds and uniqueness of the structure also makes it a great venue for a drivethrough light display. Each November, millions of LED light displays are erected around the track
in an extravaganza of holiday lighting. Last year, for the first time the route even gave guests the opportunity to drive on the track itself. Not all the events that take place at the speedway stray from its racing roots. A variety of driving and racing schools utilize the facility throughout the year. Other companies rent the facility and offer people the chance to drive dream cars (i.e. Ferraris, Lamborghinis) on the famed track. For special events such as Speedway Children’s Charities’ Hot Laps on the High Banks, citizens can purchase the opportunity to drive their personal vehicle on the track. Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags series is the nation’s largest grass roots drag racing program – drawing over 50,000 fans annually. Their Thursday Thunder series has been the training ground for hundreds of professional stock car drivers including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Joey Logano, David Ragan and Reed Sorenson.
SAVE DATE THE
Atlanta Motor Speedway has also become an important part of the booming film industry in Georgia. Its huge parking lots and preferred location make it ideal for production companies looking to construct large sets like Hunger Games: Catching Fire did for their introduction / coliseum scene. The roads around Atlanta Motor Speedway, particularly Highway 20 and Lower Woolsey have been very popular for driving and car wreck scenes. The trucks and trailers associated with the productions use the Speedway as a staging and storage location while shooting. In some cases, you can catch a glimpse of the unmistakable facade of the Speedway in the background. Such is the case in the recently released Anchorman 2. In short, the versatility of this facility has seen it widely utilized with a very positive result. More people coming to Henry County translates into more money being spent in local businesses. The whole county benefits from this super-charged economic engine!
Member Appreciation Luncheon Date: Friday, October 31, 2014 Get your Costumes Ready! Prizes, Food & more!! Catered by Shane’s Rib Shack