Chamber unveils residential recruitment and downtown retail guides to attract relocators

Margaret Jones, director of investor and business development for the Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, told the council the chamber produced a residential recruitment guide aimed at households near Peterson Space Force Base to help capture relocation interest stemming from the US Space Command headquarters move. More than 12,000 copies were distributed by direct mail to selected ZIP codes and the guide is available on the chamber website.

Jones said the guide intentionally omits direct references to Space Command so it will also resonate with retirees, health-care workers and other prospective residents and to ensure longevity beyond a single relocation effort. She said the chamber has already shared the publication with local employers including Decatur Morgan Hospital.

On economic development, Jones outlined a Downtown Decatur retail recruitment guide being developed with partners (DDRA, tourism and the e‑center) to provide data points retailers use when deciding on new locations, such as visitor counts and traffic. She asked the council for feedback and emphasized coordination across local organizations.

Council members thanked the chamber and pledged to help coordinate efforts to market Decatur to relocating workers and businesses.