Caric Martin is coming in as the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce board chairman with a four-pronged plan to support the chamber and spur economic growth in the county.

Martin, senior vice president at the Dallas branch of Douglas County Bank, took the reins from former chairman Jim Ashworth this month.

And Martin is not wasting time setting his goals and hopes into motion.

One of Martin’s major goals is twofold — to diversify the chamber and a related organization which promotes economic development while simultaneously complementing the related organization’s efforts.

The economic development organization has only been around for a year. Martin said there is still a learning curve involved in working to achieve a shared goal without duplicating services.

One of the ways Martin said that can be accomplished is to create a strategic plan to “learn how to work hand in glove, so we don’t trip over ourselves,” he said.

The means to do so are readily available.

The chamber already has worked to get two certifications. The first is a state government work-ready certification, which means the county has the skilled workforce and education infrastructure for economic growth.

The second is a state-certified film-ready status, which is similar except the workforce and education infrastructure are tailored to the film industry.

The chamber also could pursue establishment of a community improvement district — a public-private partnership designed to enhance property values by allowing commercial property owners in specified areas to tax themselves for additional infrastructure projects.

These districts are authorized by the state constitution and can be created through the Georgia General Assembly.

Martin also would like to work on finding additional funding sources for the chamber of commerce, which is a non-profit organization.

Finally, he said he would like to find a way to get Paulding County name recognition with staying power.

“We need a focal point — something to rally around,” Martin said.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in his plane, “Spirit of St. Louis.”

He said the flight was born out of a St. Louis, Mo., Chamber of Commerce project.

Martin is thinking big and he realizes that a marketing scheme of that magnitude will not happen during his yearlong term.

But he wants to get the ball rolling.

Chamber President Carolyn Wright said Martin is innovative in his ideas and thinks outside the box.

“His leadership style is certainly hands-on and he brings in lots of new ideas and vision for the chamber,” she said.

Martin began his banking career in 1977. Since 1985, he has worked in both West Cobb and Paulding counties with several different banks.

He served as chamber board treasurer in 2009, and vice chairman in 2010.