ATLANTA --- Despite a tough economy, Augusta business and civic leaders insisted in having their day at the Capitol on Wednesday as they do every year while the General Assembly is in session.

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Morris News Service

Rep. Mack Jackson, D-Sandersville, says he's no stranger to Sconyers Barbecue. Legislators and business leaders enjoyed the pork, beef and turkey barbecue at Augusta Day in Atlanta.

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Four busloads of them met at 5:30 Wednesday morning to journey westward and turn the heart of Atlanta into a piece of the Garden City for the day. They sat in the balcony gallery to watch the House of Representatives recognize them. They fired questions at state leaders such as Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox who crossed the street to meet with them in a church during the day.

And they capped the evening off with a no-alcohol reception and dinner of Sconyers Barbecue in the historic Freight Depot catty corner from the Capitol and next to the entrance to Underground Atlanta.

"We are going to order sunny weather for next year," quipped Rep. Quincy Murphy, the chairman of the Augusta legislative delegation.

It wasn't just the damp weather putting a pall on the occasion. The Augusta Commission halved its normal contribution to the event, and there was no open bar as in past years.

Commissioner Don Grantham said cancelling the event was never a consideration.

"You can't expect business to keep coming if you're not letting people know you're open for business," he said.

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce bore much of the cost. Chairman-elect Terry Elam, the president of Augusta Tech, said it was important to show support for the local delegation and to keep lobbying for legislation that maintains a business-friendly atmosphere in Georgia. "We decided that this is an investment in our future," he said.

Among the participants were Josey High School students and teens connected to the Richmond County Youth Leadership class.

Elam said bringing the kids would have been a worthwhile trip in itself.

"This is the best education opportunity for our top students to learn," he said.

Columbia County's Chamber of Commerce also participated, as did its legislative delegation. Columbia Chamber CEO Jim Tingen said at the end of the day that he thought it had been worthwhile.

"Considering it's been raining, we've had a much better day than I would have thought," he said.