Leaders of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce are encouraging residents to register for an upcoming event discussing transportation in the county.

The organization, along with Forsyth County and the South Forsyth Rotary Club, will present the 2013 Transportation Summit on Oct. 30 at the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center.

Laura Stewart, the chamber’s director of communications and events, said lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for a fee of $15 and the program will begin at 12:30 p.m.

“There will be some limited seating available at no cost for those wanting to just take part in the program and not have lunch,” she said.

The summit will be the first such event hosted by the three groups, Stewart said.

“[The chamber] has participated in similar events in the past, but this is the first one to be hosted by these particular groups,” Stewart said. “That’s what we do want people to know, especially if they maybe attended previous events, is that this one is truly geared toward your concerns as a resident of Forsyth County.”

She said the event will feature a panel of speakers and a question-and-answer portion.

“Pretty much each person or organization will have a topic that they will say a few words on and then we’ll move into a Q-and-A portion where we’ll take questions from the audience,” Stewart said.

Among the panelists are: Sen. Steve Gooch; Reps. Mike Dudgeon and Mark Hamilton; Georgia Department of Transportation representatives Rudy Bowen, Emily Dunn, Bayne Smith; Bert Brantley and Chris Tomlinson of the State Road and Tollway Authority; and John Cunard, director of Forsyth County’s Engineering Department.

Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said the event should be beneficial, especially given that Forsyth continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.

“Transportation impacts all facets of our community, not the least of which is economic development,” she said in a statement. “Transportation projects impact not only existing businesses but also businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Forsyth County.

“The summit will provide a great opportunity for open dialogue and communication regarding the future of transportation in our county.”