Dear Citizens of Atmore, Chamber Members, and Tourists: Celebrating 75 years is a significant milestone for The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce. The success and growth of the Chamber has been made possible through hard work, the Board of Directors’ diverse backgrounds, and a lot of adaptation and reinvention. Although the typical term for a Chamber President is one year, I’m not typical. Hero or glutton, you decide. I’m back for another round!

Traditionally in March of each year we invite Past Chamber Presidents to join the current Chamber Team for lunch. The conversation is usually driven by each President’s biggest accomplishment during their year of service. However, we also enjoy hearing about the obstacles their year presented. It allows us to learn and maybe implement a successful strategy, long forgotten.

In the years to come I will be proud to report, Atmore rallied together in 2020 and persevered. Unforeseen events that could have very easily broken us, drove us to strengthen as a community and instilled a drive to thrive. Entrepreneurs of Atmore continue to invest in our town by opening businesses, fulfilling a lifelong dream for many of them. Business owners and citizens alike banded together to help each other, provided a shoulder to rest or cry on, and picked those up that might have stumbled. The Heart of Atmore is beating stronger every day, showing there is life to be lived here.

Atmore does not lack passion. Our fabric is made up of empowered, goal-driven visionaries.  Strategies are implemented daily to boost growth and revitalization efforts. You cannot travel down main thoroughfares and not see progress!

Because of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s Trustees and Members we are able to invest in and promote our town on many different platforms. In 2020, The Atmore Area Chamber Foundation was formed. As we move into 2021, through the Chamber Foundation, we will expand our grant writing by attending workshops and utilizing community grant writers’ expertise. Ultimately, the Foundation will fund specific community improvement projects and be positioned to extend assistance to Member businesses.

Workforce development has been and will continue to be a focus for the Chamber in 2021. Industries are coming to Atmore in droves! Having an avenue for our youth and young adults to learn needed skills to fill the available jobs is imperative to Atmore’s success and further growth. We will accomplish this by working with city government, high schools, and our local community college.  

Our goal as the Chamber Board of Directors is to be engaged and present at the table. We strive to be a positive force in the communities we serve. I look forward to many exciting developments in Atmore. I believe 2021 will bring great change and significant growth.

As always I encourage involvement, be empowered to be the change and #DiscoverAtmore!

Emilee Waters
Chamber President