Chamber of Commerce Promotes, Improves Business Climate

The Chamber of Commerce is the arm of the Cocke County Partnership that provides our local businesses and professionals a way to work together to help promote and improve the business climate in Cocke County.

The Chamber of Commerce achieves this goal in many ways. The main vehicle involves offering numerous networking opportunities through the year including the popular Chamber Member Breakfasts, a series of Lunch & Learn sessions and other educational seminars and Grand Openings/Ribbon Cuttings for new businesses.

The Chamber of Commerce encourages all members to become involved in these events in order to help promote and grow their business as well as a way to work together to make Cocke County a better place to live, work and play.

The Chamber of Commerce also believes that local business owners/ managers are the best marketing tools each business possesses; therefore, the Chamber of Commerce strives to give these individuals different avenues of promotion within the community and regionally.

Newport and Cocke

County have officially been designated as a SmartStart™ Community, through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

The SmartStart™ Community initiative contributes to the goal of making Tennessee the easiest place to open and run a business in the nation.

This initiative supports a thriving small business and entrepreneurial environment by providing new and existing businesses with education, tools, and resources such as the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC).

Through the TSBDC, the Chamber of Commerce offers one-on-one business and financial planning for entrepreneurs with a representative that can directly help them with their needs. The Chamber of Commerce office also serves as an informational stop.

They offer maps, brochures, business cards and numerous tourism related publications free of charge to citizens and visitors. Often the Chamber of Commerce is the first place that newcomers to our beautiful area stop to find out what to do and where to go.

The Chamber of Commerce staff answers hundreds of inquiries each year about Newport and Cocke County, many of which are through the website www.newportcockecountychamber.com. A plethora of information can be found on the website also. The Chamber of Commerce began a summer concert series along the River Walk in Downtown Newport, drawing folks to the beautiful backdrop of the Pigeon River.

A series of Member Mingles was also held and the Partnership organizes the annual Newport Street Festival. A Shop Local campaign encourages buying in Cocke County and this year offered Chamber Members an opportunity to be part of a co-operative ad for the Thanksgiving weekend.

The entire staff works very hard to guarantee the success of these events and invites the community to come out and support their efforts. Lynn Ramsey is Director, Nicole Shisler Member Services Coordinator and Susan Ball provides Support Services. The Chamber of Commerce may be reached by telephone at (423) 6237201 or via the website at www.newportcockecounty chamber.com.