The May Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held on THURSDAY May 16th at noon at the Renfro Valley Lodge. The meeting will not be held on the usual date due to this meeting being held in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club. During the meeting the Chamber of Commerce will present our annual Scholarship to a High School senior. Please make plans to attend this meeting on Thursday, May 16th at noon. We look forward to seeing each of you there.

The April Chamber of Commerce meeting is quickly approaching.  The City of Livingston will be hosting our April meeting, as well as providing lunch.

The meeting is  Tuesday, April 16th at noon. Those in attendance will be given the opportunity to hear an update on all the events and excitement surrounding Livingston.  In addition, we will welcome Michael A. Rodriguez, Director of EKU Small Business Development Center.  Mr.  Rodriguez has held several workshops in Rockcastle County to provide training opportunities for local small businesses.  He will be providing an update on some of the opportunities the EKU Small Business Development Center has to offer for our local businesses, as well as some hints or keys for successful business in Rockcastle County.

Senator Jared Carpenter

The monthly membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 19th at EST Tool and Machine in Brodhead at noon.

We welcome Senator Jared Carpenter as our guest speaker for the meeting.  Lunch will be provided by EST Tool and Machine.

Congratulations to all the award recipients at the 2013 Farmers/Business Banquet.

Small Business of the Year:  IGA
Large Business of the Year:  Citizens Bank
Chamber Member of the Year:  Jamie Lear

Congratulations and thank you to the above mentioned businesses and individual. This award is a token of our appreciation for your contributions to the chamber of commerce and to the community.

A special thank you to all of our chamber members. Thank you for your support, dedication, and service to our community.

Rockcastle County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for Achieve Training Center on Wednesday, February 20th – 2:00 pm at 225 Richmond Street, Mt.Vernon.  Locally owned and operated, the center offers nurse aid classes to our community and is a new member of the Rockcastle County Chamber of Commerce. I hope that you will join Mt. Vernon Mayor Mike Bryant, County Judge Executive Buzz Carloftis, and the Rockcastle County Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s in welcoming Achieve Training Center to the community.

The Rockcastle County Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting will be held on February 19th at Community Trust Bank on HWY 461. The meeting is scheduled to begin at noon and lunch will be provided.  County Judge Executive Buzz Carloftis will be presenting the annual “State of The County” address.  Mayor Mike Bryant, Mayor Jason Medley, and Mayor Walter Cash will be giving their “State of The City” addresses.  All Rockcastle Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to attend as this will present an excellent forum for our county’s leaders to address any concerns you may have about business in Rockcastle County.

If you have not yet paid your 2013 membership dues, you may pay these at the meeting or contact Derek Adams at 606-256-0070 or dadams@rockcastlecountychamber.com.

The 53rd  Rockcastle Farmer’s & Businessmen’s Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. on  Tuesday, February 26th at Rockcastle County Middle School.  This year’s event is hosted by the Rockcastle Conservation District.  The guest speaker will Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt.  Tickets for the event are $17 each and will be available from the Rockcastle Conservation District Office or Rockcastle Chamber of Commerce by contacting Derek Adams at 606-256-0070.

If your business or organization has a door prize that you wish to donate, bring it with you to the event on the 26th.  Thanks in advance!

Kentucky Commisioner of Agriculture James Comer will be in Rockcastle County on Thursday, January 31st.  Commisioner Comer will be in the county to promote the Ag Tag program. The Commisioner will be arriving at the Rockcastle County Extension Office on Thursday, January 31st at 4:30pm.

Chamber members are encouraged to attend and assist in welcoming Commisioner Comer to Rockcastle for his visit.

At the January meeting, we will be electing board members for the 2013 year. Anyone interested in serving on the board, or knows a chamber member that would be a great representative, advocate, and leader for the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, we will be accepting nominations at the January meeting. If you have any queations or concerns in regards to the nomination and election process, or board member duties/responsibilities please feel free to contact us at 606-256-0070.