Henry County Business Insight

How do you send your business to the top of the list in Google searches? If you're located in Henry County, Georgia, you get that surge by listing your business on the MyLocalHenry.com directory. Tune in and meet MyLocalHenry.com founder and owner Lincoln Parks. A past Chair of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and serial entrepreneur, Lincoln is using his SEO and BtoB marketing skills to help other businesses get the online results that come with hiring an SEO expert. And, MyLocalHenry.com is a free service.

ALPLA celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with all employees hosting a week of activities at offices around the world. They bring the multiple cultures, languages, and geographical backgrounds together around food and fun activities. A different national observance, such as 'Black History Month' in February, and 'International Women's History Month in March, is celebrated on a monthly basis. ALPLA Director of Sales and Development at the McDonough, Georgia, operation discusses how their observance and celebration of differences makes teams more productive and the organization much stronger. 

Welcome to Business Insight. Today we are celebrating National Tourism Week, May 1-7.  Did you know that tourism in Henry County is big business? Of course, Henry County is home to Atlanta Motor Speedway but we have many great restaurants, attractions and hotels that contribute to the size industry.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, visitors to Henry County spent $311 million dollars here. That’s a lot mullah – which helps offset some of the taxes our citizens pay. But because of the pandemic, those number were down some compared to 2019.

We have with us today, the Director of Tourism here in Henry County, GA, Laura Luker, to talk about the economics of the tourism industry here in Henry County and what we can expect in 2022. She’s also going to reveal how our tourism team has put Henry County on the map in a very positive way.

The Business Insight Podcast features Promenade Through History: Henry County Bicentennial Celebration with Cynthia Howard, Vice President of the Genealogical Society of Henry and Clayton Counties, Inc., and Chair of the Promenade Through History. The Promenade Through History event takes place on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.henryclaytongenealogy.com or call 770-954-1456.

For April 2021, Autism Awareness Month, the Henry County Chamber of Commerce Business Insight Podcast recognizes Our World School, K-12, at H.O.P.E. Park located at 2680 Highway 42 North in McDonough, GA,  for their commitment to young people in Henry County who have developmental disabilities and to their mission: "Preparing students to achieve their fullest potential".

Leading with an interactive online training program designed to move the Henry County hospitality community to a level of superior-grade customer service, the tourism team at Visit Henry County, GA, has launched "Customer Experience 101." The full complement of training including modules in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will roll out later in the Summer.

Visit Henry County, GA, the county's tourism and destination marketing organization, introduced the recently organized Henry County Artists Consortium with one of its first public-facing projects -- the installation of hand-painted "Squirrel Tables" at multiple locations around Henry County. Built and designed with various themes by thirty different local artists, the Squirrel Tables project features designs of local artists and seeks to better connect the art community and the people of Henry County. The two directors of the Artists Consortium, Greg Horton, CEO and owner of The Barn Beautiful, and Koren Conrad, CEO, and owner of Creativity Cafe, provide an overview of the Artists Consortium and its goals, talk about the origin of the Squirrel Tables project, and how it is genesis to an effort to create awareness of Henry County as a resource and destination for art enthusiasts and collectors.

Chamber President and CEO Joseph Henning urges everyone to find a way to give back for the weekend celebrating and honoring the birth and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Vaccines in Henry County, GA, were given to the first round of front-line healthcare workers at Piedmont Henry Hospital on Friday, December 18.  Dr. William Watkins, Chief Medical Officer at Piedmont Henry Hospital, provides an update on the hospital's current status with COVID-19 patients and his thoughts regarding the timeline for the community to receive the vaccine.

The organizers of the Day of Joy event lay out the origin and plans for the event which is designed to remove and replace any negativity or anxiety with the inspiration that a day filled with joy brings.

Assistant Director of Nursing Amy Fenn, District 4, Georgia Department of Health, is one of the experts responsible for keeping the Henry County population healthy especially during a pandemic. On Thursday, June 16, Nurse Fenn reviewed the coronavirus case count and its trending and advised the citizens of Henry County how to keep stay healthy which will ultimately impact the viability of the economy. One sure way to help keep businesses open, she says, " Wear a mask." She provides information on preparing for the Fall when the flu season kicks in possibly at the same time that schools re-open.

Seth Woodrow, the Deputy District Environmental Health Director with District 4 of the Georgia Department of Public Health provides insight for the process of reopening restaurants, hair salons, and other businesses that are routinely inspected by the environmental arm of Henry County DPH. Woodrow also gives advice for Henry County citizens for protecting themselves and their families during the COVID-19.

Greg Cannon of Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors leads the #HENRYSTRONG - We Will Get Through This Together campaign to show support for the medical professionals & first responders of Henry County. Listen and learn how the community can participate in the parade on May 6, 2020. 

In Henry County, more than 2,600 jobs were supported by tourism and tourists generated $299 million in direct spend and $8.40 million in local taxes during 2018. Many of these jobs have been eliminated and the employees furloughed or laid off. To support hospitality workers laid off, furloughed or whose hours have been cut, the Henry County CVB has launched “Operation Help for Hospitality,” a food drive.

Partner Relations Manager, Janna Sveto shares information about Operation Help for Hospitality and how the food drive is working to support the industry that is so vital to the health and vitality of the Henry County tourism industry.

Monetary donations can be made through PayPal at www.VisitHenryCountyGeorgia.com/Support. Monetary donations will be used to purchase items wholesale/bulk through Sutherland’s Food Service to augment food items dropped off at participating businesses in Henry County. 

April 14, 2020

Nicole Chapman from Chapman Accounting & Tax Service will discuss and answer questions about the tax ramifications of the different stimulus programs currently being offered.

Piedmont Henry's CEO Dr. Lily Henson steers hospital through COVID-19 pandemic as coronavirus cases continue to climb. Dr. Henson offers insight into the state of the hospital's preparedness as Henry County citizens do their part to curb the surge by sheltering in place and practicing social distancing.

Broadway Actor Jared Bradshaw grew up in McDonough, GA, and chose singing and dancing over soccer at the local middle school. With encouragement from his coaches, teachers, and family, Jared followed his dream and is today a successful actor working full time on Broadway.  Jared's Bing Crosby Christmas Concert tour takes the stage in McDonough on December 20 for a one-night performance at the Henry County Schools Performing Arts Center. 

Henry County Chamber President and CEO Joseph B. Henning sits down with Henry County Commission Chair June Wood to discuss the reasons why  Henry County citizens should vote yes on SPLOST V. Henning presents a wide range of questions frequently asked by local voters to Wood who is adept in the transportation issues facing the county and concerned about the quality of life for all residents.

Hope White, owner, CEO, and operations manager at H. D. White Logistics joined the Chamber at the beginning of her first year of business as an LLC. Here she shares her business concept, strategic moves she's made and the progression to become a phenomenal success in just one year of business.

Henry County Chamber of Commerce (HCCC) CEO and President Joe Henning, and HCCC board member and Lincoln Parks, Director of Marketing at Heritage Bank, discuss the positive impacts for SPLOST V.

Starting on Monday, September 16, the Chamber will host a day of free consultation for small businesses in Henry County. The small business development center of the University of Georgia at Clayton state university is offering their professional consulting services – free of charge – on the third Monday of every month to small business owners, start-ups and entrepreneurs.