Dear Residents of Albany and Dougherty County,

The heart of us; made in Albany. Where the soil turns to concrete and asphalt, the lifeblood of our economy pumps through our community, on our roads, through our intersections. Made by us, built by us. We rise, we learn, we produce, we serve. Each day, through our unique contributions, we stitch our thread in the fabric that is the Albany area, our community.

It’s school buses transporting our future to the classroom of a caring teacher. Or an Albany Tech graduate, equipped with a CDL, moving pecans grown in Dougherty County to the sheller. Or trucks, loaded with our beers, Pretoria Fields, Molson Coors, brewed with Artesian City water, headed to bar taps nationwide. Or a 757 landing in the dark, serving ABY, which, after Hartsfield-Jackson, is Georgia’s largest cargo hub. Or Marine Corps materiel returning from the theater, transformed through our world-class Marine Depot Maintenance Command before being sent to the warfighter abroad. And each day, the backbone of our society, you and our small businesses pulse with activity, built on our infrastructure.

Our roads and highways, the intersections, the airport, ungird our economy, supporting us as we travel, ensuring the free flow of goods, visitors to our community, and each of us to the place we serve each day. Since its founding in 1910, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce has sought to represent its members' unified interests and create an environment for community success. A testament to collective action’s power, your Albany Area Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic force united by a common purpose to uplift our community and secure a brighter future for all who call this place we love home.

It’s why we convene, connect, and advocate.

Now through November 7, Dougherty County voters can head to the polls for a consequential local election. Among important items is a proposed renewal of TSPLOST, the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. TSPLOST is a voter-approved funding mechanism to finance transportation-related projects and improvements. With $89 million in projected revenue, of which approximately 50% is generated from visitors outside the community, it is difficult to overstate the importance of TSPLOST 2 to our community. As a pivotal driver of sustainable business growth, it impacts the ease of conducting business, customer access, and economic prosperity in our region.

With Dougherty County receiving 33% and the City of Albany 67%, TSPLOST 2 will provide road improvements, intersection improvements, trails, sidewalks, alleys, airport improvements and more. We encourage you to vote YES for TSPLOST 2. And besides your own vote, urge your employees, friends, and family to hit the polls, and always delve into the ballot's issues.

Each vote carries the promise of our collective future. To learn more about TSPLOST, visit www.albanyga.com.

Sincerely,

Perry Revell