By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
New challenge awaits McCoy
Official is tapped for regional panel
Placeholder Image
Forsyth County News
From the local arts alliance to Rotary Clubs, there aren’t many organizations in Forsyth County that don’t involve James McCoy.

Next up for the active community leader -- representing local interests on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.

“I’ve attended GMRC meetings in the past and they do a good job of serving our community,” said McCoy, president and chief executive officer of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

“I think the work that they are doing focused around the future of this community and the future of this region is very important.”

The 13-county commission deals with many issues, including fostering economic development and balancing growth with natural resources conservation.

It also recommends solutions for regional problems and interests and works to improve the area’s quality of life.

Each county has three representatives on the commission: one each from the county, its largest city and the private sector.

Forsyth County Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse said McCoy’s connections and business experience will make him “invaluable to the commission.”

“We need people on the board who have an interest in Forsyth County and also the area in general,” said Laughinghouse, who also serves on the regional commission.

Ralph Perry, Cumming city councilman and regional commission member, said McCoy is “a good person and he’ll vote ever how he feels right and he just will make a standing out asset to the [commission] board.”

McCoy said he’s eager to get started in his new role at the first meeting March 25. Though he will have a voice on the panel, McCoy said it likely will take some time to get acclimated.

“I need to learn an awful lot more about the organization and an awful lot more about the work it’s doing throughout north Georgia to really understand where we ought to be headed,” he said. “I’m excited about this.”