ATLANTA — Following the tremendous damage caused by Hurricane Helene throughout Georgia and the necessity to prioritize resources for frontline emergency workers, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of the 2024 Rural Prosperity Summit in Tifton.

The two-day event was scheduled to take place Oct. 2 and 3 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. That space that will now serve as temporary housing for Georgia Power linemen working to restore power to communities across South Georgia, the chamber said in a press release Friday afternoon.

In place of the in-person event, the Georgia Chamber will hold a virtual briefing from elected officials and business leaders, to provide more information on statewide recovery efforts. The virtual briefing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2. More detailed information will be provided soon.

Rural Prosperity Summit content and speakers will be the subject of a series of virtual briefings and podcasts later in the month.

Registrations for the 2024 Rural Prosperity can be refunded or donated on behalf of the registrant to support the Red Cross’ Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Georgia. Contact the Georgia Chamber of Commerce about a refund. If no response is received by October 31, registrations will automatically be donated to the Red Cross.

“The recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene are our number one priority,” said Chris Clark, president of the chamber. “Shifting the Rural Prosperity Summit to a digital format allows us to support one of the most vital recovery efforts — getting power and other utilities back on in homes, businesses, hospitals, and community gathering spaces. The Georgia Chamber thanks the crews of linemen from Georgia Power, the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, MEAG, and other utility companies across the state, as well as emergency first responders for keeping Georgians safe, especially during this dangerous time.”