Curating Community

STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH PHOTOS BY BRIANNA WILSON & CARMEN RODGERS

Anna Chappelle and Shellie Whitfield encourage people to stay connected

THE WETUMPKA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce aims to enrich the local community and economy through delivering foresight, management, local services and useful information.

“We connect businesses and help create relationships that help our businesses prosper,” Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce director Shellie Whitfield said. “That helps our entire community. It creates higher sales tax revenue, and that helps our community. When our businesses prosper, everyone prospers.

“One of the greatest resources that we have is that we know everyone because everyone belongs to the chamber, and we can point anyone in the right direction. We are the resource. Believe it or not, there are a ton of elderly people in our community that do not have a smartphone or access to a computer, but they do have our phone number. We get phone call after phone call with people asking us for help with things, even something as simple as a phone number to Lowe’s. And that makes my heart happy because we can genuinely help people and businesses in the community prosper.”

The chamber works hand-in-hand with Main Street Wetumpka, the primary goal of which is to bring economic value to downtown Wetumpka while the chamber’s primary goal is to connect businesses, create relationships and build community. Together the two nonprofit organizations create a welcoming atmosphere where people want to come and enjoy time in the community.

“The goal is to have everyone participating so that we can build great connections in the community and create relationships,” Whitfield said. “We always participate in any events that Main Street has going on and vice versa. I believe that is why we’ve prospered because we all work in tandem so well.”

Another driving force for the Wetumpka Chamber and Main Street organizations is figuring out how to get the youth involved in the community.

“We are really working on getting our youth invested in the chamber world. We want to teach them about entrepreneurship and tourism,” Whitfield said. “The pandemic didn’t hit us like it did in other areas. We actually thrived through the pandemic because we are such a loyal community.

“Even before Hometown Takeover aired, our businesses were up 30 percent. Now they are up 500 percent. On average, before COVID-19, we used to see 2,000 people a month. Then that number changed to about 6,000, and now, since the show has aired, we see between 10,000 to 12,000 people a month pass in front of the chamber. It really is remarkable, and since we are obviously a tourism destination, our youth need to be educated on how to thrive in a tourist-centered locale.”

The chamber is partnering with local colleges and all Elmore County chools to train students in tourismcentered programs.

“We need to get the young people involved,” said Whitfield. “It really is all about the kids.”

There are multiple ways to join the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Either you can call me, and I would bring you the information that is needed, or you can do that online on our website,” Whitfield said.

Visit the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce at 116 E Bridge St. or call 334-567-4811 for information.

Chamber members award Brown with a check for her favorite charity upon her departure as chamber president Cunningham assists with handing out trees on Arbor Day in Tallassee

MILLBROOK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce is a group of business owners and operators that work collectively to support businesses in the Millbrook community. The chamber aims to connect local businesses in the community through networking.

There are many benefits to business owners that join the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.

“By joining the chamber, businesses can expose their business to other business leaders in the community and get business exposure,” immediate Past President of the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce Jamie Brown said. “With your membership, you receive a valuable ally for your business.”

There are multiple ways to join The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We have paper applications in the office, and we have a website that business owners can go to fill out a contact information form that can be delivered directly to us,” Brown said.

The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce collaborates throughout the year using its skills, energy and ingenuity to create new and diverse methods to promote local business in the area.

“Business networking with other community business owners and having your business exposed on the chamber of commerce website listing raises their reputation within the community by being a chamber member. The Millbrook Chamber of Commerce also hosts ribbon cuttings and grand openings. They also get referrals and recommendations from business leaders,” Brown said.

Visit the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce at 3390 Main St. or call 334-285-0085 for more information.

THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce aims to promote local businesses while developing civic and common interests in Tallassee and surrounding areas.

According to the Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce director Jerry Cunningham, there are many reasons to become a member.

“It adds credibility to the business, and it’s also a way to network with other businesses and be part of a team and a partnership for the betterment of the community,” he said.

The chamber sponsors area ribbon cuttings, grand openings, open houses and groundbreakings. The Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce is active in the community year round. Each year, the chamber holds a banquet for its members and recognizes members’ contributions.

“We do community events like The Taste of Tallassee, Trade Day, which we have brought back. We also help with the RiverFest and the parade, and we host events around the holiday as well,” Cunningham said.

Not only does the Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce promote businesses in the community but it also aims to enhance the city’s downtown area.

“One thing we can do is try to make the area look a little better, especially in downtown Tallassee, so that is one of our big goals now,” Cunningham said.

During summer months, the Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce showcases some the area's most well maintained yards with the Yard of the Month award.

“That’s been going on for some time now; it’s just a matter of getting the word out and promote it,” Cunningham said.

For more information, visit the Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce at 303 Barnett Blvd., Tallassee, or call 334-283-5151.