Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Wayne County Blogger

April Bog by Anita Miller

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 17:33:22 GMT

Wayne County Chamber April News

This past month has been busy in the chamber office as we celebrate people and new

openings and gear up for Spring and Summer events.

On March 11th the Governor’s Star Awards were presented in Nashville to Katy Wright and Maicee Burleson. Chamber Executive Director Christine Chapman and State Representative “Coach” David Byrd were present for the honors. Columbia State Community College held a ribbon-cutting for its Riverworks Entrepreneur Center. It has 3-D printers, laser printers, space to set up and research a new business idea and more at the Clifton campus. Present for the occasion were Columbia State President Dr. Janet Smith, Steve Allbrooks, Senior Advisor to Congressman Marsha Blackburn, Wayne County Mayor Jim Mangubat, Clifton City Manager Doug Kibbey and other guests.

New members this month are: Wayne County TN Republican Women, Katherine’s Magical World Vacations, Center of Hope and Brooksie Thompson. Welcome ya’ll!

April 4th is this year’s first Chamber breakfast- “Coffee & Commerce”- from 7:30 a.m.- 9 a.m. Come in and hear about changes in the chamber, give feedback, let us know what we can do for you! April 19th the chamber Board of Directors meets at noon in the chamber office.

We are still looking for sponsors and volunteers for the 15th annual Tour de Wayne on June 9th.

We are revamping our Scrolling Screens-get a 15 second commercial of your business, event announcements, etc. Call Christine for details. Later this Spring/Summer we will launch a Tourism Task Force. If you are interested, contact the chamber.

Home & Garden Show plans are underway. This will be a bigger event with a food court, a couple big box stores and more. Presently we have 38 vendors who tell us they want booths. Space is getting tight and time is passing for those who are still considering “Do I want a booth?” Call Anita or Elise at the chamber to register.

Columbia State Community College will hold a free Veteran’s lunch on April 12th. For more info, call 931-676-6966

March Blog by Anita Miller

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:11:32 GMT

WAYNE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MARCH 2018 NEWS

“April showers bring May flowers” … or so the poem goes. Wayne County is experiencing an early Spring with hyacinths and daffodils blooming this last week of February. Looks like some Bradford pear trees are blooming and some allergies will be felt. Here at the Chamber office we are preparing for upcoming events. The Chamber’s 5th Annual Home & Garden Show committee is creating an event with something for everyone. Committee members are: Annie Chiodo, Chassity Martin, Marla Davenport, Brandy Stults, Matthew Lineberry, Elise Nutt ( InterAct student volunteer), Christine Chapman ( Chamber Executive Director) and Anita Miller ( Chamber Ambassador and committee chair). The Home & Garden Show will be May 12th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Waynesboro National Guard Armory. A 10’ X 10’ booth is free to all chamber members. They are asked to donate a door prize for drawings. Businesses who are not Wayne County chamber members are asked to pay $50 and agencies and civic groups who are not chamber members are asked to pay $25. There will be some familiar business faces and some new ones. The committee is still collecting vendors. There will be a food court outside and some new outdoor choices. Inside...What is a home and garden show without flowers? Marla Davenport is putting together a flower competition that most folks will qualify for. More next month about how you can enter.

The 15th annual Tour de Wayne committee will meet next week to continue planning for the well-known bicycle ride. Once again, Harvey Baker is working with the chamber to plan the tour.

New members this month are Wayne Motor Company, LLC and the Women’s Health Clinic from Lawrenceburg.

Rena Purdy ( Wayne County Director of Economic Development), Doug Kibbey ( Clifton Town Manager), Sherrie Powers ( Waynesboro Downtown Committee Chair) and Anita Miller ( Wayne County Chamber Ambassador) attended the Tennessee Main Street Retail Conference in Columbia. The day featured various national and state Main Street experts giving tips to grow a better downtown district.

The following week, Tersa Prober, a Tennessee historic preservationist, was guest speaker at the Waynesboro Downtown meeting. She offered information about strengthening and supporting a downtown district through setting guidelines and encouraging more merchants to participate. There were a few new members present and a good discussion. It was brought up that Waynesboro downtown has six new businesses in the past year and it looks good for growth this year.

This month the Wayne County Performing Arts Committee staged an Improv night at MainStage and it went well. Raymond Sobczak and Elise Nutt are co-chairs. The Wayne County Writer’s group met. Dean Stegall is chair and Glendorra Leigh is facilitator. Watch the WCN for published poetry or brief articles by members.

Don’t forget to ask another business to join the chamber and stay connected.

February Blog by Anita Miller

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:20:41 GMT

February Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Update

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

It’s the month of love, roses and chocolates and the chamber wants to share with our members and friends. If you’re interested in joining, this is a good time to come in and meet chamber staff and members. We will be hosting an open house on February 14th, Wednesday, from 11 a.m.-12.00 p.m. with our Love Your Chamber event. Finger foods will be available courtesy of the Sassy Cats (Red Hat Ladies) of Wayne County.

We signed up a new member in the snowy month of January: K-9 Solutions, a pet grooming and boarding business in Lawrenceburg.

We held a Ribbon-Cutting for the new Dewey’s Cajun Shack and Country Market. There you will find lunch and dinner and gourmet foods, soaps, small arts and crafts, along with cajun and creole food.

Good news: The Grace Revival Shop and MainStage Cafe have both held evening painting classes open to the public. Window painting was offered at The Revival Shop and a canvas project was taught at MainStage. Interested groups and individuals should contact Tori or Lee to arrange future times. Additionally, MainStage offers Trivia night on Thursdays at 5 p.m. and live music most Friday and Saturday nights with occasional Karaoke nights.So folks, there’s something for you and your friends to do on the square in Waynesboro.

Have you visited the Welcome Center in Collinwood? Great place, nice volunteers and clean restrooms. A bit of Wayne County history with pharmacy cabinets, lovely quilts and more.

Don’t forget the Clifton Greater Area Chamber of commerce has an office on Main Street in the charming historic, riverside town. They welcome visitors. And don’t forget to visit the Stribling House, past home of Pulitzer prize winner, T.R. Stribling.

Please let us know when your business is doing something special so we can share with other members.

Our volunteers, Elise, Ellie and Shermin are busy working in the office to assist with mailings, files, and events. So glad there here! Ellie is a busy high school student and a cheerleader at WCHS. Elise and Ellie are both InterAct students (junior Rotary) and a credit to the school and program. Shermin is starting her own business while working at Duren’s. Thank you ladies!

January 2018 Update

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:16:51 GMT

Wayne County Chamber of Commerce

January 2018 Events

Happy New Year to all! The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has chosen Mrs. Christine Chapman, former Wayne Chamber Assistant Director, to be the Executive Director. Christine is the owner of GLO Tan. She is busily developing plans for Chamber activities to increase business in Wayne County.

January 13th from 11 A.M.- 12 P.M. Law Enforcement Day will be hosted by the United Methodist Clergy of Wayne County in Room 400 in the old courthouse on the square. The public is invited to show support and thanks for state, county and city law enforcement officers, first responders, and EMT’s, and volunteer fire personnel.

The Chamber Board of Directors will meet on January 18th at noon in the Chamber Office.

The annual “Love Your Chamber” will be held February 14th from 11 A.M.-12 P.M. Chamber and community members are invited.

The Extension Office is participating in the Tennessee “Let’s Make History” 250K Day. Go to the link https:((tectn.org/250ktreeday/ and register to receive up to 5 bundles of trees for a total of 25 trees. These trees are free by putting in the code FREErREE when prompted. Timeline:

December 1- February 1, 2018. You must register online in order to receive the free trees.

February 24th, 2018- Plant those seedlings and post your pictures.

You can pick up your trees at UT Extension Wayne County office in Waynesboro on Friday, February 23rd until 5 P.M

Call James Harlan, Ag Extension Agent at 722-3229.

Author: Anita Miller, Ambassador

December 2017 Update

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 21:36:53 GMT

Beginning this month, your Wayne County Chamber of Commerce will be letting you know about projects present and upcoming. It seems so much is happening and this is a great way to share our story.

The Chamber has one paid employee, Christine Chapman, who serves as interim Chamber Director. She is also a Waynesboro business owner- GloTan The Chamber Board is reviewing resumes and will interview candidates for the permanent position of director this month.. There is one Chamber Ambassador, Anita Miller, who volunteers 2-3 days per week and there are two other adult volunteers: Shermin Williams, new to Wayne County, who works at Duren’s Health Mart and hails from Trinidad, and Anita Jane Atchley, from the area and long-time resident of Waynesboro. Our student volunteer, Elise Nutt, is a senior at Wayne County High School and a Rotary Interact student. ( Anita, Shermin and Elise are all members of the Wayne County Arts Program.) The Chamber Board President is Chuck Koblentz, owner of WWON Big Oldies. The Chamber Board of Directors will hold elections this month for replacement board members as some rotate off board terms to be re-elected or replaced by other chamber members.

We are pleased to announce several ribbon-cuttings were held for new businesses in Wayne County: Boston Ray Shelter Insurance Company in Collinwood and MainStage Cafe and Fast Pace Clinic in Waynesboro. Boston Ray Shelter Insurance offers home and auto protection, MainStage Cafe is open every day except Monday for breakfast and lunch. It serves breakfast all day and has live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10p.m. Veterans, first responders and senior citizens can buy a cup of coffee for 50 cents from 6-11 a.m. daily. Fast Pace is walk-in quick service clinic familiar to Waynesboro residents that has been added to the main offices. A warm welcome is extended from Chamber members and chamber office staff to all of these businesses.

The Wayne County Chamber is one of the joint sponsors of the Festival of the Trees, along with the Forestry Association and the Wayne County Mayor. Along with the festival opening day on November 25th, the courthouse hosted the Shop Small Business event, the Bicentennial celebration and the Wayne County Museum open house.

Along with doing the finishing touches for Small Business Saturday, the Waynesboro Downtown Committee held officer elections in October. Sherrie Powers was elected chairman and Dean Stegall was elected to take minutes. The committee will hold a welcoming social gathering this month. FYI- Some of you may have noticed a recent post on FaceBook by Burt Staggs regarding the three new downtown businesses who have moved in ( Dewey’s Cajun Food, The Revival Bake Shop & Grace Gift Shop, and Main Street Cafe), -”The Waynesboro Downtown is experiencing a “Revival”.

The United Methodist Clergy of Wayne County will host Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 11 a.m.-12 noon in the old courtroom on the top floor. This is to honor state, county and city law enforcement officers, first responders, EMT’s and volunteer fire personnel. Public attendance and support at the ceremony is welcomed. Come out and support those who make our lives and property safer.

Don’t forget our annual Love Your Chamber Valentine Event in February 2018 with an open house meet and greet and refreshments. Exact date will be provided in another monthly update.

Your chamber office is open 5 days a week to serve businesses and provide information to new and long-term residents. We like to promote our county and welcome your questions and suggestions. Drop in at the old courthouse or call 931-722-3575 from 8 a.m.-4:30p.m.

(Article provided by Anita Miller, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer)