Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has had an eventful year packed with events and community programs. GVACC Director Carrie Wood presented the Chamber’s year in review to the Chambers County Commissioners at the Monday business meeting. 

The Chamber operates from October to September so their year will be coming to an end in a few weeks. In that time, the Chamber has acquired 28 new members, hosted 11 ribbon cuttings or grand openings, four “Business After Hours” and four “Catch Up Over Coffee” meetings. 

In November, the Chamber hosted the fourth annual Rockingfest on the Square in downtown LaFayette introducing a new element, Young Entrepreneurs, for the first time. 

That same month, the GVACC also hosted the annual Window Decorating Contest across not just LaFayette but the entire county. At the end of the contest, three businesses are recognized in three categories. 

Wood also mentioned the GVACC shop local campaign in February; this year, the slogan was “Give us your dime before you shop Prime.” 

The GVACC’s ninth annual Real Life 101 event saw over 700 local high school students gathered at Southern Union State Community College on the Valley campus. In May, the Chamber recognized first responders, nurses and teachers. 

In June, the Chamber held its second annual Kids Fishing Rodeo to a huge audience. A total of 168 children under the age of 12 participated in the all-day event. 

The Chamber’s most recent community event saw a huge response from the community. Families and local businesses came together to donate new and used uniforms for the Chambers County School District uniform swap. Around 40 families came out in July to get the uniforms they would need for the upcoming school year. Wood said with all the donations they have left, the Chamber was able to fill all of the school closets at each public school. 

“So that turned out really well. We will definitely do that again,” Wood said during the meeting. 

The Chamber is already gearing up for this year’s Rockingfest on the Square, which will be held on Nov. 16. 

“I want to see everyone’s faces there,” Wood said. “Bring your family, your friends. It’s going to be another great year. This is the fifth year for Rockingfest, so we’re very proud of that.”

However, the Chamber’s next event is the annual Chamber dinner on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. ET. 

There will be a ribbon cutting on Sept. 26 for Betts Overflow and More. 

“They have moved locations to a bigger location so that’s always great news,” Wood said. 

The Chamber’s realtor meeting will be on Oct. 23. There will also be a ribbon cutting on Oct. 24 at Magnolia on Main in LaFayette. The Fall Adopt-A-Mile will be on Oct. 26.

Last but not least, Wood announced that this year marks her 10th anniversary with the Chamber of Commerce.