Chamber of Commerce celebrates NDO with Ribbon Tying

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce celebrated their newest member, Ninth District Opportunity, located at 161 Queen Street, with a ribbon tying ceremony on Thursday.

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen says a ribbon tying symbolizes a community coming around a local business or organization in support of the services that organization provides.

Street Outreach Director for StreetExit and Ninth District Opportunity Mike Fisher says they do a lot for the community that some may be unaware of.

He says they have also created a new Facebook page called StreetExit of Toccoa to provide residents, who know someone who might need help, a starting point.

Fisher says they provide people who are struggling with a hand-up, not a hand-out.

Ninth District Opportunity’s Community Resource Coordinator Paula Duley says they are now accepting appointments for cooling help for the general public.

In 2022, Ninth District Opportunity helped 968 households with their water bills. Paying $307,797 in water bills. They also helped 954 households with their heating costs and 363 households with cooling cost in 2022. Paying $1,059,550 in gas and electric bills.

This year, they have helped 931 households pay $276,134 in water bills; and 1,025 households with heating help and 226 households with cooling help by paying $608,250 in gas and electric bills.

For additional information about the Ninth District Opportunity here in Toccoa-Stephens County, contact Duley at 706-886-0211.