Published: April 23, 2008 04:07 pm            

Joint chamber meeting

April 16, 2008 — Around 80-100 local business owners and chamber members attended the first “Inaugural Joint Meeting of the Grayson and Olive Hill Chambers of Commerce” on Thursday, April 3, 6 p.m. at Carter Caves State Park.

The focus of the meeting was to develop ways to make our county stronger by working together… “the west side of Carter County working with the east side for a like-minded first class community”.

Carter Caves State Park, Commercial Bank and First National Bank provided food for the event.

Jack Strother, Jr., president and CEO of the Commercial Bank, emceed the program.

“We can get a lot more done if we work together securing funding, attracting new businesses and pulling resources on a county-wide basis,” Strother said.

Crystal L. Ruark, current executive director of the Flemingsburg/Fleming County Chamber of Commerce spoke first. She explained how the different groups and organizations in their town have worked together and saw much accomplished.

Michael Russell, president/CEO of Stone Mountain Development Company shared with the crowd the aspirations he and his brother, Liam, have for the development of Stone Mountain and the Global Data Corporation in the Olive Hill area. (see more on this next week)

John Dundon from Kentucky Christian University spoke on “farm shoring”.

“We believe we are well-suited and well-positioned to benefit as a community from “farm-shoring”, explaining how, through modern technology, work can come from urban areas to rural areas.

“We would like to offer the next step to be held on our campus,” Dundon said. “We are ready to sponsor subsequent meetings as a neutral party in the desire to build a strong economic development base in Carter County.”

Willis Kelley, president/CEO of First National Bank, presented the invocation and benediction.

John Jordan, Carter Caves State Resort Park manager, gave the closing acknowledgements.

For more information on the local chambers you may contact Ruie Jackson at the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce, 474-4401, or Jonathan Lewis at the Commercial Bank of Olive Hill, 286-4451.

        

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