TOURISM
GrowCo3 Beachaven Vineyards & Winery By Tony Centonze Melinda Shepard, Executive Director of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, recently announced Beachaven Vineyards & Winery as the recipient of the 3rd annual Entrepreneurship of the Year Award, GrowCo3, which recognizes contribution to the community and commitment to the Chamber. “GrowCo started because we wanted to establish a type of entrepreneurialfocused program to bridge the gap for potential and current business owners,” Shepard said. “The business can be a locally-owned franchise or start-up. We started highlighting some of our local entrepreneurs, in hopes it would garner some interest in the community, and it has. Our goal is to use this platform to recognize entrepreneurs who have found success in our Clarksville and Montgomery County."
of Miss Lucille's in 2018. In 2019 the award was presented to Jerry and Carolyn Ellis, and Cindy Kerns, owner/ operators of The Catfish House." “These businesses are so familycentric,” Shepard said. “That's typically what happens with entrepreneur-owned businesses. The whole family gets involved, and you often end up with multiple generations working together.” The Chamber's Business Development Committee, consisting of volunteers and board members, meets monthly. That committee is responsible for selecting the annual GrowCo recipient.
“We share their stories, and the lessons they've learned while growing their companies. That, somewhat inspired the name GrowCo.”
“Wes Cunningham chaired the Committee in 2020, and this year's decision to nominate Beachaven Winery was unanimous,” Shephard said. “The folks at Beachaven have been great community partners for many years. They hold so many events for the Chamber, and for the community. They've hosted welcome-home celebrations, as well as our industryappreciation luncheons. They're just great community partners.”
The first annual GrowCo went to the Knott and Armitstead families, owners
Anyone who has lived in Clarksville for at least one summer is certainly aware
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of Beachaven's summer music festival, Jazz on the Lawn. People drive from near and far to attend the event which takes place every other Saturday from May thru October. They also come out for DJ on the Dock, a more relaxed Thursday-night event, and of course, just to buy bottles or sometimes cases of the award-winning wines. Louisa Cooke says the winery has been operating for 34 years. “Our business license is #10,” Cooke said. “My father, Judge William O. Beach, has been called the father of the Tennessee wine industry by many people. He did lead the way as far as legislation, and was instrumental in many ways, like learning what grapes would do well in Tennessee.” “We were really pleased to get this award. I think it's nice, and I'm glad people haven't forgotten about us. In my mind, I think of an entrepreneur as someone with a new start-up. We've been doing this a long time, so it's nice to be recognized for endurance and longevity.” Cooke has always been modest about Beachaven's success. After more than 30 years, and countless medal-wins in
