The Barrow County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting over breakfast at the Barrow County Leisure Services.

The guest speaker for the event was Phil Foil, the executive director of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.

Foil spoke on what GEFA aspires to do and how it will be allotting money coming from the federal government via the stimulus package.

GEFA is about environmental stewardship and economic development, Foil said. As a relatively small state agency — with only 44 employees — GEFA sometimes is overlooked but has had a positive impact in Barrow County.

The first land conservation project GEFA took on was in Barrow, at the Statham spring site. More than 20 acres was tended to in the effort.

Additionally, 14 water and sewer loan projects have been GEFA funded in the county, resulting in $30 million since 1985.

Since 1995, GEFA has removed six underground tanks in the county, and currently maintains two more at Fort Yargo.

Foil also spoke about how GEFA is working with the ARRA — the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, or the economic stimulus package.

In order to effectively distribute the monies allocated to them in the package, GEFA must make sure its plans align with the state’s instructions and creates jobs and promotes development.

Among the projects GEFA plans to help counties focus on includes weatherization.

Weatherization is an option afforded to low income families who need assistance making their homes more energy efficient.

This grant money allows families to eventually spend less on energy bills, thus giving them more income.

Additionally, GEFA has state energy programs meant to increase the efficiency, management, renewability, upgrades and education in the state.

There are also block grants that will be helped by the stimulus money. Energy efficiency and conservation block grants will help many local and smaller governments, Foil said.

There are also clean water and drinking water revolving loan funds that GEFA makes available.

The city of Winder currently has one project on the fundable list for assistance from GEFA, Foil said.

Also at the meeting, Chamber of Commerce President Tommy Jennings reminded fellow members of the many upcoming events.

The ninth annual golf tournament, sponsored by The Peoples Bank and taking place at The Georgia Club, will tee off Tuesday, May 12. There is still room to enter a team or be placed on a team, Jennings said.

The chamber also is hosting a Lunch and Learn on May 19 at the Chamber office. The topic will be "Surviving Tips for Tough Times.

Network Barrow will meet every Friday this month at the J.D. Withers building in Winder.

The next membership meeting will be June 2 at 11:45 a.m. at the Barrow County Leisure Services.