Held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Oct. 20, the showcase will include booths from businesses in the area advertising their products and services.
It’s part of an ongoing move by the chamber to increase membership and engagement among that membership, said Jamie Kwong McDonald, the executive director of the chamber.
“One of our key needs is that local businesses are looking for networking opportunities,” she said. The chamber also hopes to draw more attention to the event with high-profile speakers such as David Chilton, the author of The Wealthy Barber and a recent regular addition to the television show Dragons’ Den.
Upcoming events such as a comedy night in November, and regular meetings at local businesses, are providing members more opportunities to speak with each other, she said.
The chamber is seeing increased growth in membership, with it now approaching 250, up from 200 when she was hired as full-time executive director a short while ago. The chamber is hoping for 400 members in the next five years.
Additionally, the Orleans Chamber of Commerce is hard at work at a project with the city to make the east end more friendly for businesses.
Details are still under wraps, but it is intended to make it easier for companies to settle in the east end, she said.
The executive director will not indicate if the incentives will be in the form of property taxes or other means. The city will release the plan, in association with the chamber, in the coming weeks.
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