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Benton Area Chamber of Commerce

Wow! How exciting is it to be a current resident in the City of Benton and, specifically, to be a current member in the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce? The Benton Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to have brought to the members of the Chamber, to the citizens of the City of Benton and to the residents of Saline County several beneficial events throughout 2011. Also, it was a privilege of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce to give its support to Go Benton’s successful initiative to begin the process of building an event center in the City of Benton. Under the leadership of new Executive Director Gary James, and with the continued hard work of Jerry Beaty, Amy McCormick and the Board of Directors, the Chamber has continued to improve the events it hosts from year to year, but it also has added two new events and forged new partnerships to add value to our local businesses’ Chamber membership.

The Chamber began the year with another evening of enjoyment at its annual winter banquet highlighted by the banquet’s keynote speaker Dr. Fitz Hill of Arkansas Baptist College who inspired the Chamber membership to do great things for not only the City of Benton but also each one’s business. The year continued with the Chamber’s annual Cajun Feast during the spring, which continues to be a staple in the lineup of events the Chamber’s membership has come to anticipate year after year. And in the fall, the Chamber showcased its local member restaurants at Savor the Flavor. Not only did the Chamber showcase the excellent restaurants in our area, the event also was a chance for the Chamber to showcase the newly constructed Benton High School.

And if you think the Chamber was not already busy during the year, the Chamber decided to branch out and add value to its members and the residents of Saline County by bringing to the area Zombieville and Glitz & Garland. Zombieville was the Chamber’s haunted house performed in partnership with Benton’s own Southwest Design and Display. Over the course of six nights during the Halloween season, forty to fifty volunteers each night entertained those who chose to visit the creepy residents of Zombieville. What a fun time for the members of the Chamber who volunteered during the event!

To end the year, the Chamber, in partnership with the Saline Memorial Health Foundation, brought to the Central Arkansas area its first ever Glitz & Garland: A Benton Holiday Shopping Extravaganza. Glitz & Garland was a chance to showcase retail vendors from Benton, Saline County, the State of Arkansas and the Southeast Region. In addition to the wonderful opportunity for great holiday shopping, the Chamber and SMH Foundation obtained a 2011 GMC Terrain from Everett Buick GMC which was raffled off and given away during the second day of shopping. Over 2,000 people came out during the two-day event, and the Chamber and SMH Foundation could not have asked for a better first year for Glitz & Garland. Better yet, the event raised a significant amount of money for the Saline Memorial Health Foundation – what a great way to enter the holiday season and get into the holiday spirit!

Literally days after Glitz & Garland concluded, the City of Benton witnessed what may be looked upon as a significant turning point in the history of Benton when its citizens overwhelmingly approved the issuance of bonds that would finance the construction of a new event center in the City of Benton. With the new event center comes new jobs, during and after construction, and a new venue for events for groups, businesses and organizations throughout the State of Arkansas – but most importantly new life to the economic development in the City of Benton. I am excited to see what the future holds for the City of Benton during my lifetime, but I am humbled by what the citizens have set in motion for our children and our grandchildren. I think it is true for each of us — we desire to leave things better off than we found them, in the small things and in the big things, and I am confident the City of Benton has started in the direction of doing so by way of building the new event center.

I’m excited, have you noticed? Are you as excited as I am? If not, you definitely should be. Great things are happening in the City of Benton and, specifically, in the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce. Why don’t you stop by and join the Chamber if you haven’t already? And if you are currently a member, stop by to plug yourself into the Chamber’s efforts by serving on a committee! I guarantee you the experience will be rewarding to you and your business. For those who are already members and who are already serving, thank you so much for your service to the Chamber. Together let’s continue to be business-focused and community-minded.

Shop Benton. Play Benton. Live Benton.

Jordan Woolbright, President
Benton Area Chamber of Commerce

Benton Area Chamber of Commerce
607 North Market Street Benton, AR 72015
Phone: 501-315-8272 Fax: 501-315-8290
Website: www.bentonchamber.com


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