The Business and Economic Development Committee’s mission is to provide awards, recognition, education, and communication opportunities and resources to assist Chamber members in operating successful businesses in Haywood County. The committee’s main areas of focus are small business issues, advocacy, economic development, and workforce development.
The chamber staff and committee monitor the business climate and provide a forum to help member businesses stay competitive and raise their visibility in an ever-changing environment.
The committee also selects and recognizes Business of the Month recipients, Business of the Year recipients, and Entrepreneur of the Year recipients. Recipients are recognized during monthly Insights and Eggs breakfast meetings and the Chamber’s Annual Dinner. Members of the committee also work diligently to provide quality speakers and programming for monthly Insights and Eggs breakfast meetings, focusing on issues or topics concerning HCC Chamber members.
Other efforts of the Business and Economic Development Committee include continued partnership and programming with Haywood Community College, HCC Small Business Center, Haywood Economic Development Commission, Haywood Advancement Foundation, Advantage West, BREC, Smoky Mountain Development Corporation, Smoky Mountain Small Business and Industry Center, SCORE, Mountain Bizworks, SBTDC, and REAL. “To open a shop is easy. To keep it open is an art.”
Chinese Proverb