Newsletter November 2008

Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Update

First of all we are very happy and proud to have Mike Clayborne, Lewis Whitfield, and their staff at Create to partner with on occasion to work on projects that help improve the quality of life for all of our citizens. Create is a very valuable resource and we are fortunate to have such an organization in North Mississippi.

Your Chamber of Commerce has had a very busy and exciting year. Some of our most important accomplishments include:

  • Completely reworked our Program of Work
  • A major renovation of the information content on our website
  • Planned and managed 16 ribbon cuttings, 6 groundbreakings, and 1 reception
  • Reinstated the Council of Governments quarterly meetings for public officials

Some of the most noteworthy events included: RTI International groundbreaking, Monroe Gas Storage groundbreaking and barbeque luncheon, and Steel Development Company groundbreaking and barbeque, Birdsong Peanuts’ grand opening reception, and the Heritage Inn & Suites ribbon cutting.

We should be proud and very happy that Governor Haley Barbour has been to Monroe County twice this year to attend two of the aforementioned events. Very few, if any counties, in the state can make that statement. No other county in north Mississippi outside of Lee County and DeSoto County has as much economic activity underway.

We have 12 companies that over the next 12-24 months have committed to investing over $1.2 billion in projects all over the county which are projected to create 500-600 new jobs. Some of those are mentioned above. Most of these have come about due to the hard work and commitment of your board of supervisors, mayors, and aldermen.

Currently, the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of a membership drive. Our Chamber’ Ambassadors are busy calling on prospective businesses and individuals who are not currently Chamber’ members. Our goal for our membership drive is to obtain a minimum of 60 new members. We are also in the process of updating our industrial site and building data on our website.

Our plans for the new year include:

  • A totally new and improved website with virtual tours and marketing components that highlight our great quality of life
  • Retail shopping brochures for Amory and Aberdeen
  • An Image magazine for Monroe County
  • A Leadership Monroe County class for business owners and company managers/CEOs
  • Completing the update of our industrial site and building data

As always we welcome input, comments, and suggestions from our citizens. Please let us hear from you and better yet please come see us. With all of the activity in the Chamber and in our economy, we need our citizens’ involvement now more than ever. If you are not a Chamber member you can be for only $50/year, the price of an individual membership. We have a place for you with the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce! Please give Ronda Riley, Kathy Lusby, or me a call at 256-7194 or 369-6488. Our webpage is www.gomonroe.org.

Sincerely,

Tony Green
Executive Director
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce