-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s March/April 2019 Focus newsletter

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Franklin, Granville and Warren County Chambers and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, will host the 2019 Small Business Luncheon in a collaborative effort again this year. The event will be held at Henderson Country Club on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Duke Energy is once again the presenting sponsor for this event.

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website states, “We recognize that more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.”

As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Of those small businesses and their owners, the organization says, “Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.”

This local annual spring luncheon is a part of the national effort to recognize the merits of small businesses within every community. After lunch and a keynote address, the event will conclude with the presentation of the Vance County Small Business of the Year. This will be the seventeenth consecutive year that the Chamber has presented this award. Franklin, Granville and Warren Counties will also award Small Business of the Year honors for their counties.

Criteria for the Henderson-Vance nominee are:

– Employs a maximum of 50 people;

– Member of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and must be located in Vance County;

– Must be a viable, on-going business for three or more years, experiencing growth or stability over its business life;

– Provides critical service or product, fills a void in the business community, or has a unique approach to the delivery of goods and services;

– May have overcome diverse or extraordinary circumstances to remain in business;

– Business is supportive of community growth and sustainability;

– Is not a governmental agency or municipality

Former recipients of the Vance County award include J.M. White Funeral Service, Medical Arts Pharmacy, Vanco Outdoor Equipment, Quick Print, Satterwhite Point Marina, Dataforge, Johnson’s Block & Concrete Company, Inc., City Tire, Inc., Henderson Wellness Center, Franklin Brothers Nursery & Greenhouses, Inc., Ballet Arts, Interiors Downtown, Fogg’s Exxon, Vance Furniture, Gray’s Gourmet, The Peanut Roaster and Raemac Transportation.

The event is by invitation only and will include lunch and a key address.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Chamber at 252-438-8414 or Jay@hendersonvance.org.