SHEFFIELD – On Thursday, February, 19 , the Shoals Chamber of Commerce and the Jameson Inn
Hotel and Conference Center partnered to host its first listening session as part of the
five-year Turn it Up! Campaign.
This breakfast event, entitled Small Business, Big Ideas: A Focus on the Future of
Sheffield, included Shoals Chamber representatives, Mayor Ian Sanford, the Sheffield
City Council, and small, Chamber-member businesses throughout the city of Sheffield.
“We didn’t want any guesswork involved when it comes to addressing the needs of our
members,” said Chelsea Kauchick, Director of Membership & Marketing at Shoals
Chamber. “Some great things are happening in Sheffield and we want to help continue
this momentum.”
This listening session involved an open forum where city officials, small businesses and
organizations addressed ways to help boost awareness and communication about what’s
going on in their city. “We are doing great things here in Sheffield. We just need to make
Steve Stanley
sure people are aware of it,” explained Mayor Sanford.
“There have been several improvements to the Sheffield streetscape and we’re seeing an
increase in population after years of decline,” said Steve Stanley, Sheffield City
Councilman – District 5. “Downtown Sheffield is really coming to life, and we may see
close to 300 people living there in the near future.”
The Shoals Chamber of Commerce plans to help facilitate a Sheffield Small Business
Task Force to focus on key areas specific to Sheffield small business’ needs. It also plans
to create city spotlights and promote it via its website and social media on each of the
four Shoals cities, beginning with Sheffield.
“Now we know the needs of these small businesses. The next step is following through,”
said Kauchick. “Creating a task force made up of Sheffield businesses is a great start to
addressing their common concerns and goals.”
The Shoals Chamber of Commerce will hold similar events for small businesses in every
zip code in the Shoals area as part of its five-year campaign.
For more information, please contact:
Chelsea Kauchick
Director of Membership & Marketing
Shoals Chamber of Commerce
ckauchick@shoalschamber.com
256-764-4661
