William Wells, president and CEO of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, announced recently that he will be visiting each and every business and organization in Monroe County during the next several weeks. The goal will be to bring an awareness to the members of our communities as to just what the Chamber of Commerce does to benefit the businesses, organizations and citizens of Monroe County.

"There are many misconceptions about who we are and what we do," says Well.  "Part of my job is to inform the public and make them aware of how important it is for our county to have a strong Chamber of Commerce. For example, many are unaware that we are a non-profit 501(C) (6).  This means that we don't receive federal or state money.  We can't take advantage of grants that many other non-profit organizations have access to.  We are funded exclusively by membership dues, fund-raising events, program sponsorships, etc. We are extremely grateful that the county recognizes the value of what we do and chooses to invest what they are able each year, however, it takes much more than they can provide to help us accomplish our goals."

Wells continues, "We offer educational programs for our youth, the future employees and entrepreneurs of Monroe County. We offer business-related programs, workshops and consultation designed to help our small and medium-sized businesses learn more about what resources are available to help them with their businesses."

"A strong Chamber goes a long way in helping to create a strong local economy. The stronger the economy, the more successful our area businesses and organizations will be.  This is their Chamber and I want them to be aware of what they have," Wells concludes.

You can follow the Monroe County Chamber on Facebook and Twitter for instant updates on Chamber events, programs, and activities.  Visit www.MonroeCounty Chamber.org and click on the icons located on the home page.