The Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is a large proponent of local business. Last week, members of the GVACC and local leaders packed together in the showroom of King Ford to look back on the last year of accomplishments and events.

Guests were treated to a dinner buffet featuring foods from a number of local restaurants as Chamber Executive Director Ashley Crane welcomed everyone to the annual awards event.

With the theme of “Flash back to the 60’s,” everyone was dressed in colorful and creative outfits befitting the program.

“Tonight we will reflect back on the past year and will look towards the future of the chamber of commerce for our businesses and communities,” Crane said, listing off the Chamber’s accomplishments, including the 69 newly-recruited members, monthly and quarterly events, plethora of ribbon cuttings and many partnerships, especially the newest one with Universal Class.

Adding to this, Crane attributed much of the chamber’s success this past year to Marketing and Events Manager Carrie Royster, who she said recruited the 69 new members.

Not only has the chamber been successful in bringing in new members, it is also working toward having its own offices by the beginning of December that they will utilize to continue their planning of events and area networking that they do every day. Currently they are renting space from the Chambers County Development Authority.

With so much done in the name of the Greater Valley Area in the past year and much more planned for the upcoming year, the chamber is well-deserving in praise.

It is unknown what the state of the area would be like without the chamber but in all likelihood, things wouldn’t be near as good as they are now.