By: Summer Kelley, Staff Reporter

Outside, the building is just beginning to look different than it has the last couple of years, but inside is a whole other matter.

The Dade County Chamber of Commerce has undergone some minor renovations that have resulted in a major new look. Visitors to Dade County will now have a place to obtain information about the area that includes many glimpses into life in Dade County. 

Work on the Chamber’s updated look began last year after the spring windstorm that blew half the Chamber of Commerce’s roof off the building. A new roof and the start of a new coat of paint outside are among some of the changes that can be seen at the Chamber. 

Inside, visitors walk into rooms lined with pictures from the past “Picture Dade” photography contests, display cases, and area and regional information. There is also a professional looking desk area. Aerial shots of Dade County’s schools framed in wood painted in Georgia state tourism colors hang on the walls.

The Georgia tourism theme continues upstairs in the large room where there are more framed aerial photographs of Dade County neighborhoods and a large conference table surrounded by cushioned chairs.  The paneled walls have been painted cream as a background for more photographs. 

Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Tinker said that much of the painting had been done by the county, but the display cases, brochure racks, painted frames, office furniture and conference tables all came from Butch Rapier.

The main room downstairs now holds information on the Dade County area, while the upstairs room serves as a State Regional Information Center with information from all over the state of Georgia. The smaller room downstairs functions as Tinker’s office and includes another, much smaller conference table and her desk area.

A ribbon cutting for the Chamber’s new look was held this past Thursday evening and several of the Chamber’s members stopped by. Tinker said she is pleased with the way the Chamber looks and is excited to see the outside finished and new signs added to complete the renovations.

Visit the newly renovated Chamber of Commerce at 111 Railway Lane in Trenton between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.