Regional chamber meeting visits Carlisle

Pictured, from left, are: Tracy Pratt-Savage, Tracy Williams - Morehead, Amy Cloud KCCE Executive Director, Cindy Banks - Winchester, Vicki Steigleder - Maysville and Jerry Johnson - Carlisle- Nicholas County Administrative Assistant at Neal Welcome Center.

Area Chamber of Commerce Directors came together in Carlisle, Nicholas County last week to share updates and ideas. The group covers Mason, Fleming, Harrison, Bourbon, Clark, Rowan, Montgomery, Bracken, Lewis, and Grayson.

A special guest attended the meeting – Amy Cloud, the new Executive director of KCCE (Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives) from Frankfort came to meet members and share what KCCE has to offer. “I have made it my mission to visit all 83 KCCE Chambers to get a better understanding of what each one has to offer, and hear about how we can help support them.”

For smaller Chambers like Nicholas County’s KCCE offers a number of educational sessions and resources. The Carlisle – Nicholas County Chamber has attended the “Boot Camp” that KCCE puts on each year but with a limited budget has been unable to attend KCCE events with registration fees. Ms. Cloud shared that “scholarships” are available to smaller chambers that allow them to take part and network from other larger Chambers.

Besides the financial challenges smaller chambers face, members were able to share how neighboring chambers from Mason, Fleming, Harrison adopted Nicholas County and mentored them on their Work Ready Application. The chambers shared their applications as samples, answered questions and attended Nicholas County Work Ready Meetings to share their experiences and offered tips on presenting to the Review Panel. Nicholas County has been recommended for Work Ready Status by the review panel and will go before the WIB (Workforce Investment Board) next week to receive official Work Ready Status and street signs they can display.

Other Chamber Directors shared what they are doing as part of their Work Ready initiatives and Shop Local programs in November.

By rotating meeting locations, other Chambers and KCCE were able to see the unique things that Nicholas County has to offer, including the Neal Building as a meeting place for events and conferences and retail and light industrial spaces available for purchase or rent.

The next Regional Chamber meeting will be in February in Morehead.