Business chamber makes plans for 2011 Lunch and Learn Jan. 18

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The second Lunch and Learn meeting will be held on Jan. 18 at noon at the Museum of the San Rafael in Castle Dale. The event will be catered by Gilly’s from Ferron. Featured speakers will be Mike McCandless, Emery County Economic Development Director and Ethan Migliori. The lunch will also spotlight local businesses including Cardell Sackett from the Heritage Home Mortuary.
McCandless will give an update on economic development in Emery County in 2011. He and Migliori will talk about funding opportunities for businesses including the Fast Track grant as well as tax credits that are available. They will talk about the Business Expansion and Retention program which is operating in Emery and Carbon counties. Much information will be given concerning opportunities for your Emery County business.
The Emery County Business Chamber wants everyone to become involved in the organization. A reasonable fee schedule has been outlined for the yearly memberships.
A survey was taken at the launch meeting in November. Most business owners preferred meetings every other month. So Lunch and Learn meetings are planned for every other month on the third Tuesday of the month with the first meeting for 2011 on Jan. 18.
As part of the Emery County Business Chamber goal to support local business, they are giving local food vendors the opportunity to cater the Lunch and Learn events. If you are interested in catering a Lunch and Learn let us know.
Future topics for the Lunch and Learn meetings include: creating an Internet presence and using social networking to your advantage. Marketing your business. Tourism and the Utah film industry, how it can work to your advantage. Finding loans to expand your business with Zions Bank personnel. Branding your business and creating a business identification uniquely your own. Speakers will include: David Cassidy, Alan Christensen, Bev Evans, Joel Hatch, David Williams, Marshall Moore and others subject to availability.
Along with the speakers at the Lunch and Learn event, two Emery County Businesses will be spotlighted. If you would like your business to be spotlighted, let the ECBC know you are interested. This is a great way to increase awareness for your business and what you have to offer the community.
All meetings will be held the third Tuesday every other month with meetings planned for January, March, May, July, September and November of 2011. If you would like to join the ECBC organization contact Jerry Stottler, ECPC chairman. Board positions are still available.