Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce July updates
During the months of May and June of 2023 we worked hard and played harder for our Small Business Kickball Tournament. It was great to see our community of businesses out on the field with all their loved ones watching. Congratulations to the Neuse News “G.O.A.T.s” for taking 1st place! Followed closely by the Bo’Jangles “Cajun Kickers” in 2nd place and the Farm Bureau “Major Liability” in 3rd place. Along with many other competitive businesses just behind them. We thank everyone for playing!
Through the rest of May we reignited our Young Professionals program, supported this year’s BBQ Fest on the Neuse, collected mini grant completions from Lenoir County Public School teachers, and celebrated 100 years of the Rotary Club in Kinston.
Continuing from May into June with ribbon cuttings for the Restored Hope Boutique, Unique R&R Cleaning Services, and MainStreet Family Care. New businesses are always a reason to celebrate!
We are especially grateful to have such hard-working spirits and community minded services joining us here in Lenoir County. We implore everyone to support them on social media and add them into their day-to-date services and shopping experiences.
The Restored Hope Boutique raises money and provides work experiences for the recovering women of Hope Restorations. MainStreet Family Care provides urgent care and primary care near 258 North and US Hwy 70 E. Unique R&R Cleaning is a group of driven and detail-oriented woman devoted to making every spot they touch shine. We welcome all 3 to our community as new members of our Chamber!
June brought us this year’s Business Award winners; Richy Huneycutt for Pinnacle of Achievement, Gloria Blake for Administrative Professional of the Year, Fernando Hicks of Beary Smokey Smokehouse for Microenterprise of the Year, James Dawson of A Touch from Him for Minority Business of the Year, and Bryan Hanks of The Bryan Hanks Show for Small Business of the Year, Jeffrey Williford of Belk for Community Impact, and Eric Cantu of GI Joes for the Eric Cantu Veteran Award.
Finishing the two months with a successful and informative Wake Up Lenoir! Legislative Breakfast with Senator Jim Perry.
We thank everyone that sponsored our many events or participated with our Chamber during this time.
Members of our Young Professionals and Ambassadors are actively involved in our community. Both Josh Perez, the Young Professionals Chair and Reding Pittman, the Ambassadors Chair (pictured above) help with our Chamber’s supportive effort. We all want to see a bright future for our local market economy, but these two put in the work to see it happen. We thank them for being the driving force behind their individual programs. Each month we hope to pick one member from each to highlight their contributions within their group.
Outside of their duties within the program, Josh Perez is the bold visionary behind Outrun Media Group and Reding Pittman is a community engaged loan officer for Truist Bank.
Young Professionals are for 21–39-year-olds seeking to improve opportunities for Lenoir County residents included in their demographic. They seek business owning entrepreneurs and adults just entering the workforce wanting to make a difference!
Chamber Ambassadors branch out to improve our member services, while broadening their network. They represent and support us at events and help to keep us connected with our members’ needs. This group has no age limit, but it is required to be a member in good standing with the Chamber.
Please contact us if either of these group’s appeal to you. It helps to know that you have these two great leaders at the wheel.
The Superball Golf Tournament is our largest fundraiser of the year under our Lenoir County Education Foundation. Our foundation raises money via our Golf Tournament and Adult Spelling Bee, sees applications through the creation to completion process, and disperses all funds raised when it comes to our Mini Grants. Each year we give out around 50 or more grants. Lenoir County teachers apply for up to $500 in grant funding towards lessons or field trips for students.
2023 is about to tee off on Thursday, September 14th at the Kinston Country Club. We ask that any sponsors please contact Judy Jones at 252-527-6352 or click the image above.
These Mini Grants impact so many students across Lenoir County! We hope you may consider supporting them this season. Check out our Mini Grant prize patrol in the video below. Watch all the smiling faces of students and teachers as they receive these grants. Then pick up the phone today to get involved! The more support we see, the more smiles we get during our 2024 patrol!
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