Creating a place to live, work, play, and stay!

Chamber Connection January 2020

A lot of great things happened at the Chamber in 2019 and even more is planned for 2020!

2019 was very good to the Elkins - Randolph County Chamber. Highlights include a Benedum Foundation grant for the S.H.I.P. Program, the conclusion of the Community Investment Grant Program, Workforce and Economic Vitality collaborations, and many networking opportunities for Chamber members and the community.

SHIP – The Chamber and D&E College are happy to announce plans for an internship program for area college students during the summer of 2020. The nine-week internship is called the Summer Highlands Internship Program (SHIP). Five students attending D&E College and five students from Randolph County attending college elsewhere will be selected to intern in a business or organization in our community. Interns will work eight weeks (1 vacation week) for four days a week at their assigned location. They will spend their “fifth” day with their cohort learning leadership, management, and civic responsibility skills. The hope for the program is to give college graduates the opportunity to stay in Randolph County after their graduation. This is part of the Chamber’s focus on creating a vibrant community and “creating a place to live, work, play, and stay !”  More information about the program and applications for both businesses and interns will be provided soon! If your business, organization, or college student is interested, contact the Chamber. Community Investment – The Chamber was pleased to provide $1,500 to local businesses during 2019 (in additional to $10,000 in 2018) for our Community Investment Grants . The Chamber split the cost of signage (up to $500) for businesses to improve visibility. Collaborations – In addition to SHIP, the Chamber has been collaborating with many organizations in the community. First, Our Workforce Development group held two events focused on finding ways to connect employers with new employees. Multiple organizations, agencies, and businesses participated in these opportunities for conversations. The Workforce Development Team is now focused on “next steps” to move our workforce forward for both employers and future employees. Second, the Chamber and Elkins Main Street have merged our Economic Development and Vitality committees into one group to better serve the needs of our community. Many exciting new initiatives are on the horizon for this group. In summation, working together with these and other organizations/agencies is solidifying the mission and vision of the Chamber to advocate, educate, and network to enhance business opportunities and be a positive, economic driver for Elkins & Randolph County. Networking – There were many wonderful networking opportunities during 2019 including our Annual Dinner & Awards in April, the Women’s Conference in June, Bi-Monthly meetings, and a dozen After Hours at local businesses. So, what's new at the Chamber for 2020?

Coffee & a Conversation - While having a Business of the Month isn’t new, the promotion for our Businesses of the Month (BOM) will be. Starting in January, a crew of students from D&E will film a short video called Coffee & a Conversation featuring the BOM to share each month. Congratulations to our January 2020 Business of the Month, Mountain Gymnastics Academy. Every month we will feature a different business/organization. The business will be featured in promotion through both print and social media. The Chamber welcomes nominations for other BOM businesses or organizations. Look for the first Coffee & a Conversation video in mid-January.

Third Thursdays - Save Third Thursdays! Every month on the third Thursday, the Chamber will present either a Bi-Monthly Breakfast Meeting at 8:00 AM at The Wood Tech Center OR an After Hours at 5:30 PM at a Chamber Member’s location. Many of our After Hours are already scheduled, but we have a few months open, so call if you would like to host an After Hours.  The Chamber’s next Bi-Monthly Meeting is set for Thursday, February 20 th , 8:00 AM, at The Wood Tech Center!

At the 2019 Annual Dinner & Awards last April, every guest was offered a copy of Building a Vibrant Community by Quint Studer. They were a generous gift from Jay Wallace and Mark & Marsha Doak. It's a powerful book that the Chamber and other community organizations are using as a model for making Elkins and Randolph County a place to live, work, play, and stay! If you haven't receive a copy yet, please contact the Chamber. We want to share this powerful resource with the community. For additional information, watch this video or contact the Chamber!  Save the Date! The 2020 Annual Dinner & Awards will be held at the Phil Gainer Community Center on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Our guest speaker will be Quint Studer, the author of Building a Vibrant Community. The Chamber is excited to share his message and hear his thoughts on how the Chamber and our community partners can revitalize Elkins and Randolph County.

Be Part of  Discover West Virginia ’s Celebrate Corridor H Special Section The 2020 edition of  Discover West Virginia  magazine will include a special advertising section focusing on Lewis, Randolph, and Upshur counties. The section will be made up of full-page and half-page full-color advertorials. Businesses and organizations from the area will receive discounted advertising rates, and participants will automatically be sponsors of the Celebrate Corridor H reception after the issue launches and be mentioned in a follow-up story in the Spring 2020 issue of  West Virginia Executive  magazine. Contact Connie Conrad at (304) 376-5819 or  [email protected]  before  January 10  for more information.

Welcome to the Chamber! The Chamber is happy to welcome the following new members to the Chamber. We appreciate your membership and look forward to partnering with you as we create a place to live, work, play, and stay in Elkins and Randolph County! The Riverside Retreat and West Virginia Executive Magazine

Hull Benefits- offering SSDI Discount for Elkins Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Members The Elkins Randolph County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Hull Benefits/ SSDC Services to offer our members and their friends and families with professional, experienced Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation to those who may have a serious health condition who would like help or are having trouble obtaining SSDI. Hull Benefits/ SSDC is providing these services to our members at a reduced pricing contract. Contact Hull Benefits/SSDC for additional information and mention the Elkins Randolph County Chamber of Commerce discount code for reduced pricing. DISCOUNT CODE: ERCCC SSDC has over 35 years of experience helping people navigate the complex Social Security system and obtain the benefits they have earned . Did you know that only 30% get SSDI on application alone? With SSDI assistance, your changes can be increased to 70% Contact Hull Benefits or  SSDC for additional information 214-704-1458 [email protected] or 800-374-9950 | ssdcservices.com

Elkins Randolph County Chamber We're Better Together! 10 Eleventh Street, Elkins, WV 26241 www.erccc.com 304.626.2717 [email protected]