DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Christie Haynes presented an update of the Chamber and Office of Tourism Development activities at Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.

Among the highlights:

The county’s revenue from the hotel/motel tax continues to grow. In 2015, the tax generated $386,297. That grew to $430,876 in 2016 and continues to grow month over month in 2017;

9,381 visitors to Dawson County stayed at Amicalola Falls Lodge from January through July of this year;

Five new stores have opened in North Georgia Premium Outlets in 2017 and an Old Navy store will be opening soon;

The recent ‘Shine Pedlars Metric and Half-Metric continues to grow with 244 cyclists participating this year, an increase of 59 percent since 2016;

There have been 34 ribbon cuttings in the first seven months of 2017 compared to 30 all last year;

The Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 40^th anniversary this year;

Eighteen young people graduated from the Chamber-sponsored Leadership Dawson in April.

Haynes continues to be honored for her work with the Chamber.

In 2015, she was only the second recipient of the Young Alumni Award from the University of Georgia. Within two years of graduation she became the youngest president of a Georgia chamber. She is a 2012 UGA 40 Under 40 honoree, and is a past president of the School of Public and International Affairs Alumni Board.

This year, she received the coveted Georgia Certified Chamber Executive award.