I am partial to this quote about March.
“March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes, and a laugh in her voice.” ― Hal Borland.
I have always been a tomboy, and March is when we can really start to be outside and play in the dirt. I hope you spend a little time playing outside.
For the Chamber of Commerce, it was a month of blink, and you miss it. March came in like a lion and ran out like a cheetah. I was fortunate enough to be able to read to the preschoolers at Step, Inc. during Read Across America week. It was fun and a great way to share my love for reading and the importance of reading, which is why the Chamber continues to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Patrick County. Along with our partners, Step, Inc., One Family Productions and Stuart Rotary, we are able to provide this program to residents of Patrick County.
The first of the month saw the chamber and Reynolds Homestead partner to present the Cottage Industry Roundtable. This first of its kind event sought to bring together our many makers, bakers, doers, and others who run a business from their home and what resources the chamber, Reynolds Homestead and others can assist them with. It was a great day of engagement, and we look forward to helping and watching these entities grow.
We were also excited to attend the ribbon cutting for the new Heavy Equipment Operator simulators that have been installed at the P&HCC site in Stuart. These simulators teach students the ins and outs of operating all types of heavy equipment. With the current Highway 58 project and the newly announced Vesta section, students will have no trouble finding quality paying jobs after completion of the program.
The chamber, in partnership with the Stuart Farmers’ Market and Bull Mountain Arts, successfully hosted another indoor pop-up market in March. These events help carry our market through the winter and create excitement for when the farmers’ market does open for the season which will be April 18 and 25 and the official opening May 2.
The Patrick County magazine is at the printers and will be here in time for county April events. No matter how much we meet and plan, it always feels that it comes down to the wire with pulling the advertisements and content together. Long hours go into the editing process. But like each issue, we are happy with the finished product and hope everyone will be too. Thank you to everyone who advertised in the magazine. It makes the magazine possible and provides the extra local taste of our county and surrounding area.
The upcoming events the chamber has planned are a Succession Planning on April 2 for businesses and organizations. The chamber has a strong sign-up listing and looks forward to helping these entities transition their leadership while still serving our community. May 6 is the presentation Pre-Venture Planning for Entrepreneurs. This session will help individuals take their ideas for a business and map out the basics for getting it up and going. Growing and supporting new businesses in Patrick County is a vital part of our local economy.
If you have any questions about our upcoming programs or county events, feel free to reach out to the chamber at www.patrickchamber.com or call (276) 694-6012.
Adcock is the executive director of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.
