March E-News! The Latest Chamber News!

2025 March E-News

Women's Breakfast

March 13, 2025

New Benefit for Members!

Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce Announces Partnership with BluMine Health

Bardstown, KY

The Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our new partnership with BluMine Health, offering a comprehensive healthcare benefit to individuals working for Chamber member businesses. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses and enhancing the well-being of our community.

About the BluMine Health Benefit

Employees of Chamber member businesses, as well as their eligible dependents (ages 2-26 if still considered dependents), can now access BluMine Health’s concierge primary care services. For those not employed by a Chamber member business, individuals can join the Chamber to take advantage of this benefit.

This service provides comprehensive, front-line primary care, including:

Chronic disease management
Annual wellness physicals
Basic lab work and blood draws
Cold/flu treatments and much more

Affordable and Accessible Healthcare

The cost is just $72 per month for a family plan, with a one-time set-up fee. Payments are conveniently set up via ACH and will be deducted on the 23rd of each month.

BluMine Health has multiple care center locations, including right here in Bardstown at 700 Portland Avenue, Suite C. Other locations span across Kentucky and Southern Indiana to provide flexibility and access wherever you are.

Join Today!

Take advantage of this exceptional healthcare benefit by contacting the Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce at (502) 348-9545 or via email at chamber@bardstownchamber.com. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being.

For more information about BluMine Health’s services, visit www.BluMineHealth.com.

Young Professionals Network

What an incredible evening connecting bright minds at the The Volstead Bourbon Lounge! Our BNCC Young Professionals after hours brought together familiar faces and welcomed new members to our growing group. From handcrafted cocktails to meaningful conversations, the energy in the room was vibrant.

To all our new members- welcome to the family! And to our regulars, thanks for making this network such a vibrant place to grow professionally. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our next event!

For more information about joining BNCC YPN contact - Elliott Newland at Elliott@bardstownchamber.com

2025 Annual Awards Dinner

On February 20th, the Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber celebrated its Annual Awards Dinner honoring winners from the 2024 year, at The Legacy at Log Still Distillery. It was a great night of entertainment, sharing of memories, great food, and acknowledgement of the great community members that create a strong chamber.

Please help us in congratulating all of the 2024 Award Winners:

2024 Emerging Business of the Year- Eric Hayden Collision & Towing

2024 Emerging Leader of the Year- Olivia Raley

2024 Young Entrepreneur- Tate Hill with Tate Hill Photography

2024 Excellence in Education- Rick Markle

2024 Non-Profit Organization of the Year- St. Vincent DePaul Outreach Ministries

2024 Small Business of the Year- Mary Harrell with Liberty Tax, Liberty Angels, and Rachelle Danielle Rose Decor & Gifts

2024 Large Business of the Year- American Fuji Seal, Inc.

2024 Virginia Browning/ Lifetime Achievement: Susan Elmore

We want to recognize our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: LG&E and KU

Venue Sponsor: Log Still Distillery

Red Carpet Sponsor- James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Video Presentation & Award Photography Sponsor: Grizzly Media

Bar & Toast Sponsor- Visit Bardstown

Award Winner Sponsor- Cintas

Dessert Sponsors- Hadorn's Bakery, Lisa's Creations LLC, & Shortcrust Coffee & Pastry Bar

A special thanks to our Visionary and Distinguished Members for their continued support.

Thank you to the following volunteers who helped with the amazing evening:

Kit Mills for being a great Mistress of Ceremonies

Jennifer Rhodes & Kelly Scott for assisting with check in

Devin O'Bryan and Zachary Sinclair for their AV Technical skills

Kailey Keith with Inflate your Imagination for the balloon arch.

Stan Carton for taking photos on the red carpet.

Judge Hutchins & Nelson County Fiscal Court for taking our calls and keeping the roads and citizens safe during inclement weather.

We express our gratitude to Nathan Downs for his leadership in 2024 and Jeremy Riggs for guiding us into 2025. Lastly, we extend our thanks to our Chamber Members, Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and all attendees for celebrating with us.

Young Leaders

On February 26th, our Young Leaders toured some amazing organizations and gained insights into the future of healthcare and fitness. We visited CHI Saint Joseph Health/Flaget Memorial Hospital, Anytime Fitness, and Baptist Health Hardin Family Medical Center.

Throughout the day, our Young Leaders not only had the chance to learn from industry experts, but also engaged in hands-on activities that deepened their understanding of these fields. It was a day filled with learning, exercising, growth, and inspiration as they explored the critical role of innovation and leadership in shaping healthier communities.

February Connect Hosted By: Bardstown City Schools & Bardstown Polytechnic Center

What an incredible evening at our Chamber 5pm Connect last night as we celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Bardstown Polytechnic Center!

We're thrilled to have partnered with this innovative new facility that will create amazing opportunities for our local students. The center offers specialized training in culinary arts, engineering, IT, media production, health sciences, HVAC, plumbing, construction, and many more career paths.

Seeing the enthusiasm from both business leaders and educators reinforced just how important this new resource will be for our community's future workforce. The state-of-the-art facilities are truly impressive!

Thanks to everyone who attended and to the Bardstown Polytechnic Center team for hosting us. This partnership represents exactly what the Chamber is all about – connecting local businesses with education to strengthen our community's economic future.

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings

Mama Duck's Childcare

March 11, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM

Location: 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004

Previous Ribbon Cuttings:

Congratulations to Tiny Tapas on their ribbon cutting that was held on Friday, February 7th.

Upcoming Events

March Connect

March 19, 2025

Join us to celebrate local students and flex your civics knowledge at a community event for the National Civics Bee.

Thomas Nelson High School Auditorium

March 22, 2025

8am - Registration & Light Breakfast

9am-Noon is Live Competition

Open to the Public

Why Civics?

We believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. The National Civics Bee is a way to promote greater civics knowledge and civic participation across the country, and to energize our community with a celebration of civic pride.

Prizes

Each finalist will receive a certificate.

In addition:

The First Place Winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
The Second Place Winner will receive a $250 cash prize.
The Third Place Winner will receive a $125 cash prize.

Sponsored by: US Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Co-Sponsored by: Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce

Local Sponsor: Nelson County Public Library

Insurance options for Chamber Members

Spotlight of the Month

Strike a Bargain Liquidation

The Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Strike a Bargain Liquidation as the Spotlight of the Month!

Located at 751 Portland Ave. in Bardstown, Kentucky, Strike a Bargain Liquidation is your one-stop shop for unbeatable deals on everything you need and more! This locally owned and operated liquidation store has become a go-to destination for customers looking to score amazing bargains on a wide range of products, from stylish clothes and furniture to electronics, household essentials, hygiene products, and much more.

What sets Strike a Bargain Liquidation apart is not just the incredible variety of items available at fantastic prices, but also the friendly, dedicated team that makes shopping here a fun and enjoyable experience. Each day, their amazing staff works hard to ensure the store is stocked with great finds, providing customers with the best deals in town. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your living room or stock up on everyday necessities, Strike a Bargain Liquidation is sure to have what you need at a price you’ll love.

If you haven't checked them out yet, now is the perfect time! Be sure to visit Strike a Bargain Liquidation and see for yourself why this local business has earned a reputation for providing quality products at unbeatable prices.

Find them at 751 Portland Ave., Bardstown, KY, or call them at (502) 203-4842. You can also connect with them on Facebook for updates, promotions, and more at Strike a Bargain Liquidation Facebook.

Ambassador of the Month

Jennifer Rhodes

My Old Kentucky Home State Park

jennifer.rhodes@ky.gov

Jennifer Rhodes continues to show her support for the Chamber. She is a faithful Ambassador and continues to help promote the Chamber. Thank you Jennifer for all the support you have provided for our community.