CLAYTON, GA — Last Thursday morning, members of Rabun’s business community joined Forward Rabun for a business breakfast to launch a new marketing platform now available to local businesses. As Forward Rabun announced the procurement of exclusive local rights to the new program, equal reflection was given to the seven years of progress behind reaching the milestone.
Opening remarks noted that seven and a half years ago, elected officials and numerous Rabun Countians realized that with growth happening at a faster pace, it was high time to determine our own future. And, to let growth happen for us; not to us! As a result, a new approach for Rabun County was drafted with help from a University of Georgia community development model. The goal was ambitious: take the pieces of economic development, tourism, and business advocacy, that sometimes overlapped, and fuse them into a single, efficient, unified engine. Today, that engine—known as Forward Rabun—is firing on all cylinders, proving that a coordinated strategy is the key to mountain prosperity.
A unified vision for progress was equally celebrated as meeting attendees heard how Forward Rabun was established as a 501(c)(6) corporation. Planning also included an intentional design to create an organization to help shape the economic future of our county. By integrating the Development Authority of Rabun County (DARC), the Tourism Development Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce, the organization has replaced silos with synergy. And, the organizational design helps strengthen the local economy to enhance the total quality of life for every citizen. This unification is certainly visible in committees such as the Intergovernmental Roundtable, where local leaders now collaborate on long-term planning for housing, broadband, and infrastructure.
The success of the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce was also celebrated as it was noted that theChamber, acting as the business advocacy arm of Forward Rabun, has seen an explosion in engagement. By merging boards and expanding networking and training programs, membership has skyrocketed from a mere 54 members to over 400.
Through partnerships with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center and North Georgia Technical College, Forward Rabun has provided local entrepreneurs with the marketing and workforce training necessary to compete in a modern economy.
The tourism division, rebranded as Explore Rabun, has successfully positioned the county as Georgia’s premier mountain destination. And, impacts are quantifiable. Some of the examples cited at Thursday’s meeting included:
- Tax Revenue: Collaborated with state legislators to increase the local hotel/motel tax from 5% to 8%, fueling further community investment.
- The “Must-Have” Guide: The Rabun County Mountain Travel Guide is now the most requested publication in Georgia Visitors Centers, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
- Major Events: From hosting the state’s Economic Development board in late 2025 to sponsoring local staples like the Foxfire Museum events and the Twin Rivers Challenge, Explore Rabun has turned local pride into a statewide attraction.
As the calendar turns to 2026, Forward Rabun is shifting its sights toward economic diversification. Working with DARC, the organization is actively recruiting industries in e-commerce, food processing, and business services. The goal is clear: reduce the county’s over-reliance on seasonal tourism and create year-round stability for the workforce. This goal is based on a clear vision for the desired future of the county based on the input of hundreds of Rabun County residents, obtained through surveys, townhall meetings, focus groups, and individual interviews and conversations.
Nowhere is the partnership more evident than at the Rabun County Welcome Center. Staffed by Forward Rabun, the center serves as a high-tech gateway for visitors, featuring interactive displays that showcase local adventures. From the Vet-to-Vet Café to the Keep Rabun Beautiful initiative, the collaborative partnership covers more than just business—it covers the heart of the community.