Chamber of Commerce Events Promote Commerce and Community Spirit
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Despite the country’s economic woes, Elizabeth City has weathered the financial storm through new business growth and community involvement, says Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Palestrant.
With approximately 40 chamber-sponsored events annually, the largest chamber in northeastern North Carolina has continued its mission to bolster the economic base of the greater Elizabeth City area. “Most of our events are business-driven, but everyone works together here to improve our economy,” Palestrant says. “Businesses have tightened their belts and they’re getting creative, but they’re still growing. We’ve done a business opening at least once a month.”
In addition, each month the chamber hosts Business After Hours events to assist local businesses in building community support. The events provide a platform to introduce consumers and merchants to a business and its services, such as last year’s event that showcased neighboring Camden County.
“Camden County has historically been a very agriculturally based community, but that’s changing,” Palestrant says. “At the Business After Hours event, we brought out all of the county’s businesses to encourage them to work together. We can really jump-start business relationships at these events.”
The chamber also focuses on community relationships through events such as Coast Guard Week, which kicked off in August 2009 and is planned to resume as an annual event this fall.
Coinciding with the Coast Guard’s birthday in August, the week featured events and exhibits to celebrate and support the more than 1,000 active Coast Guard members and their families who are stationed at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard base.
“The Coast Guard is a big economic driver here,” Palestrant says. “All of the family members who come to Elizabeth City bring new skill sets and new employees. We were really excited to be able to celebrate the entire week with these families.”
During the week, Coast Guard families were treated to several activities including a day for their children at Elizabeth City’s hands-on science museum, Port Discover; the chance to see a Coast Guard exhibit at the Museum of the Albemarle and a street festival downtown. The chamber also hosted the second-annual Coast Guard Expo, which brings local businesses, schools and organizations together to offer information and resources.
“The Expo helps the Coast Guard families gain traction fast here in the community,” Palestrant says. “It’s always hard when you come into a new community to figure out which doctor to use, where the playgrounds are and what schools to attend. This gives these families a chance to really jump-start settling into Elizabeth City. What helps these families also helps our economy.”
Story by Emily Lansdell
