Carthage Chamber previews spring and summer events, legislative stakeholder review, and candidate forum

Julie Reams, president of the Carthage Chamber, gave a public comment update to the council on Jan. 28 outlining the chamber's planned events and outreach for the next six to nine months.

Reams said the Chamber will host a stakeholder legislative review this Friday with Senator Jill Carter and House Representative Cathy Loy to discuss local needs with state lawmakers. The session is invitation-only and aimed at bringing local stakeholders and elected officials together, she said.

She previewed the upcoming Maple Leaf Festival, noting it is about nine months away, and said the Chamber is working with graphic students at the tech center to develop this year's festival logo. Reams also said the Chamber will host a candidate forum on March 13 for mayoral and council candidates at Carthage Water and Electric Plant, with a local broadcaster serving as moderator.

Other planned events include a business expo at Memorial Hall in March (Chamber members prioritized for vendor space), a spring shopping promotion the week before Easter, an Earth Day celebration in Central Park on April 26 including an Earth Day window contest for students, and expanded networking events such as weekly Chamber Coffees and monthly after-hours gatherings.

Reams said the Chamber is launching new programming, including a men's breakfast series and continued "Empowering Women" events, and is working with tourism and city partners to support local businesses. She also said the Chamber assisted with a childcare grant and is focused on cultivating local business support for Carthage's work-ready community status.

The Chamber comment was presented during the public comment portion of the meeting; no council action was taken on the items Reams described.