At last week’s Summerville City Council meeting, council members voted to join “Top of Georgia”, a 501-(c)(3) non-profit organization that was formed to promote economic development in Northwest Georgia.

According to Top of Georgia the organization is “an economic development initiative that serves as a nonprofit fundraising arm to enhance the marketing efforts of the publicly funded Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority (NWGAJDA). We serve as a way for private individuals or companies to contribute to the economic well-being of the greater Northwest Georgia area including Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties.”

Summerville Councilman Rickey Hughes brought up the idea of joining the organization in a previous city council meeting, but Mayor Harry Harvey was not in favor.  Harvey says that the county belongs to the Northwest Georgia JDA and that being a part of “Top of Georgia” is “redundant”.

The Summerville City Council voted to go against the mayor’s wishes and join the non-profit group for a period of one-year and to re-evaluate membership at the end of that time period.