Our Chamber history goes back to the early 1950’s when the population of Calhoun was only about 3,000 people, and all of Gordon County contained just over 18,000 people. A number of business and civic leaders believed the community was becoming large enough to need a Chamber of Commerce. Beverly Langford put forth the idea in a speech to the Calhoun Rotary Club. In 1953 this resulted in a group of businessmen securing a charter for the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. A. H. Scoggins was elected the Chamber’s first president in 1955. During these early years, the Chamber was instrumental in the development of New Echota.

After several years, the Chamber’s activities lapsed and interest was not widespread. As a result, the Chamber became dormant until 1961. In this year, the Calhoun-Gordon County Planning Commission, under the direction of Burton J. Bell, considered the reactivation of the Chamber, and a special study committee was appointed. It consisted of Jack Holland, Rodney Harbin, Tommy Brown, John Gunnels, Ellis Wood, and J. C. Maddox. This group recommended reorganizing the Chamber of Commerce and adopting the old charter. By-laws were drafted, appropriate committees were formed, and the December, 1961, meeting resulted in the start of a new Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. Hoyt Edwards was the first Chairman of the Board of the new Chamber. Since December, 1961, the Chamber has been continually active in the affairs of Calhoun and Gordon County.

In 1975, the Gordon County Industrial Development Authority was formed and then contracted with the Chamber of Commerce for the President to be the Authority’s administrator. Through this joint effort, it was decided that a major program of work would be to diversify the industrial base of our community. This was performed through a very thorough research and direct mailing program to those industries that would be conducive to our needs. This has proven very successful for Gordon County, and over 2,000 new jobs have been created in non-textile industries since 1978.

In the earlier years, the Chamber offices were located in the Calhoun Civic Center, the second floor of the Calhoun First National Bank Community room. In 1968 the programs and projects of the Chamber required additional space, and the Calhoun First National Bank generously agreed to provide rent-free office space at 102 Court Street, formally the site of the Calhoun First National Bank. In 1978, in cooperation with the Calhoun/Gordon County Beautification Committee and the City of Calhoun, the Chamber was the first to begin downtown revitalization by renovating the front of their office to the Victorian motif. Revitalization continues to be an ongoing project for downtown merchants and businessmen.

By 1985 the Chamber programs had expanded, as did the staff, requiring more office space. Added to that, the Accreditation Committee was appointed and from their decisions, property was purchased at 300 South Wall Street and a new 3,000 square foot Chamber was built and dedicated April 3, 1986.