The Cumming Forsyth County Chamber Of Commerce

What The Cumming Forsyth County Chamber Of Commerce does

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce (also known as Forsyth County Chamber or FOCO) is a private, membership-based nonprofit organization headquartered at 212 Webb Street in Cumming, Georgia. The Chamber functions as the central business convener for Forsyth County, connecting the Forsyth County Government, the Development Authority, the Forsyth County School System, and higher education institutions through the Forward Forsyth strategic economic development partnership formed in 2019. It serves a horizontal mix of small business owners and entrepreneurs, established businesses, manufacturers, and tourism/hospitality operators through a portfolio of programs including membership tiers, networking events (Business After Hours, Power Networking Lunches), educational workshops, SCORE mentorship, the Excellence in Business Awards Gala, the State of the County Address, and Transportation Summits.

The Chamber operates three core operating units: Business Advancement Resource (BAR), a small business support council offering roundtables, workshops, and SCORE mentorship; Discover FOCO, the tourism development entity serving as the county's outsourced visitor investment service; and Forward Forsyth, the multi-stakeholder economic development partnership. Additional offerings include the Library video resource platform, Profs for FoCo (a pro bono consulting partnership with the University of North Georgia), a GIS-based Site Selection Service, and grant administration services such as the Forsyth County CARES Small Business Grant Program, which processed $2,765,000 in applications from 615 local businesses during the COVID-19 response.

The Chamber's revenue model rests on three streams: recurring membership dues, event revenue from ticket sales and corporate sponsorship, and grant administration fees. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Notable corporate sponsors include Beaver Toyota and Northside Hospital Forsyth, while major partner institutions include SCORE, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, and the University of North Georgia. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and currently undergoing a leadership transition, with President and CEO James McCoy departing after 20 years of service on February 28, 2025.

Name

The Cumming Forsyth County Chamber Of Commerce

Legal name

Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://focochamber.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is a private, membership-based nonprofit that serves Forsyth County, Georgia businesses through membership programs, networking events, economic development initiatives, tourism (Discover FOCO), and partnerships with county government and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cumming

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for businesses to join the Chamber and access benefits including networking events, business resources, directory listings, and advocacy services.
2. Grant Administration: The Chamber administers grant programs on behalf of local government, such as the Forsyth County CARES Small Business Grant program providing up to $10,000 for local businesses impacted by COVID-19.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from events including awards galas, summits, networking events, and educational workshops through ticket sales and sponsorship.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based nonprofit business organization that provides business advocacy, networking events, business advancement resources, and economic development services to local enterprises in Forsyth County, Georgia. It administers programs such as the Business Advancement Resource (BAR), Discover FOCO tourism development, and Forward Forsyth economic development partnership.

Product overview

The Cumming Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce operates as a membership-based business organization offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Business Advancement Resource (BAR) which provides business roundtables, market research, and mentorship through SCORE partnerships; the Library video content platform covering business topics; Discover FOCO for tourism development; Forward Forsyth as an economic development partnership entity; and Profs for FoCo providing pro bono University of North Georgia consultations. Additional services encompass membership programs, a business directory, site selection tools, event hosting, the Forsyth County CARES Small Business Grant Program, and educational partnerships including the University of Georgia SBDC and University of North Georgia Continuing Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs Annual membership tiers for businesses providing directory listings, networking events, advocacy services, and access to business resources.
• Business Advancement Resource (BAR) A council of the Chamber providing small, existing, and emerging businesses with resources including roundtables, workshops, and mentorship programs.
• Discover FOCO Tourism development entity serving as the outsourced visitor investment development service for Forsyth County, focusing on amateur sports market and film industry recruitment.
• Forward Forsyth Strategic economic development partnership entity serving as the driving force behind Forsyth County's strategic economic development plan targeting e-commerce, data services, technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
• Chamber Events Event hosting including Chamber Events, Community Events, and hybrid event options including State of the County Luncheon, Excellence in Business Awards Gala, Transportation Summits, Business After Hours networking, and Power Networking Lunches.
• Forsyth County CARES Small Business Grant Program COVID-19 relief grant program offering up to $10,000 for small businesses based in Forsyth County to use on working capital, equipment, payroll, and other authorized expenses.
• Business Directory Searchable online business directory allowing users to find Chamber member businesses.
• Site Selection Service GIS-based site selection tool with interactive mapping to assist businesses in finding locations in Forsyth County.
• Profs for FoCo Pro bono business consultation initiative partnering the Chamber with University of North Georgia to provide free consulting services to Forsyth County businesses.
• Business Advancement Resource Library Video-based educational resource library featuring playlists on topics including Community, Technology, Communication, Manufacturing, Career Prep, and Human Resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ jobs created through economic development projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of North GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Forsyth County Chamber and University of North Georgia joined forces to create Profs for FoCo, providing pro bono consultations to local businesses through university faculty expertise.
• Forward ForsythflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Forward Forsyth is a strategic economic development partnership formed in 2019 comprising Forsyth County Government, Chamber of Commerce, Development Authority, Forsyth County School System, and higher education institutions. It serves as the driving force behind the county's strategic economic development plan, targeting industries including e-commerce, data services, technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
• SCOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses through education and mentorship, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) with 11,000+ volunteers. SCORE provides services at no charge or very low cost through roundtables including Non-Profits Roundtable, Business Knights of the Roundtable, and Hispanic Business Roundtable.
• University of Georgia Small Business Development CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNG SBDC provides educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Located at 906 Interstate Ridge Drive, Ste B, Gainesville, GA 30501. Offers wide range of business development assistance.
• Northside Hospital ForsythminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier healthcare provider that co-sponsors Chamber events including the annual State of the County Address and Boulder Dash 5k/10k race.
• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDOT partners with the Chamber and county on transportation projects including State Route 400 widening and Highway 369 bridge. GDOT Commissioner participates in annual Transportation Summit.
• Beaver ToyotaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Chamber events and host venue for SCORE roundtables. Located at 1875 Buford Hwy, Cumming, Georgia 30041.
• Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATL, established in 2018, provides coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro-Atlanta region including Forsyth County. Working with county officials on regional transit plan development.
• Forsyth County GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner in Forward Forsyth economic development initiative and co-sponsor of CARES Small Business Grant program providing up to $10,000 for qualifying businesses.
• Forsyth County Development AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Forward Forsyth strategic economic development partnership, working on business attraction and expansion initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ForsythCountyChamber
• Instagraminstagram.com/forsythchamber/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forsyth-county-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cumming Forsyth County Chamber Of Commerce