Alleghany County Chamber summarizes marketing, grants and asks for continued county support

Larry, director of the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce, briefed commissioners during a county work session on the chamber’s recent activities, grants and marketing investments and noted a county funding recommendation of roughly $38,000.

The chamber director emphasized the organization’s mission “to build a stronger, more vibrant community by supporting local businesses, promoting tourism, encouraging education, and fostering partnerships,” and reviewed services the chamber provides, including operating the visitor center, producing a printed visitors guide and running annual events such as the Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival, the Fourth of July and Christmas parades. Larry told commissioners the visitor center is open six days a week and that roughly 25–30% of visitors ask about buying land or homes in the area.

The chamber reported an estimated paid membership of about 274–275 businesses after a pandemic- and hurricane-related decline; small-business dues were cited as $125 and larger-business tiers higher. Larry said the chamber’s total operating budget is “under $200,000.” He said the chamber raised its membership rates about 25% last year and that advertising and promotions in the past year totaled “over $50,000” in paid placements across regional magazines and online platforms.

Larry described recent grant and marketing wins: the library and chamber each received grants to set up free Wi‑Fi locations and technology training across rural parts of the county (the library’s award was described as roughly $15,000–$16,000 and the launches were scheduled to begin in July, with one year to implement). He said the chamber and the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) funded a geofencing analytics contract (a three‑year deal obtained at about 50% off) to measure visitor origin and demographic data; that software estimated 5,600 attendees at last year’s Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival. Larry also said the state public‑broadcasting system (PBS) plans a feature on the county tied to the Ag Fair and Carnival after the chamber’s outreach.

On county support, Larry described recent TDA allocations and a county recommendation for chamber funding. He said the TDA provides about $7,500 in operational support and roughly $32,000 for marketing (figures given in the session by the presenter). The chamber’s request to the county had been $40,000 and, he said, it was adjusted down to about $38,000 in the current budget recommendation.

Commissioners and staff asked questions about membership counts, dues, the chamber’s fund balance and how county and TDA funds are used. Several commissioners praised the chamber’s promotional work and encouraged continued collaboration with the TDA, the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and nearby counties for cross‑promotion.

Larry also described programmatic activity the chamber has pursued: rebranding and promoting the Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival, conducting a small‑business pitch event in partnership with a local community college (prize awards noted), coordinating with Blue Ridge Rising and the Blue Ridge Parkway Association on gateway community marketing, and working with local partners to host a PBS children’s program presence at a county festival.

Larry told commissioners the chamber does not seek to build unrestricted reserves but to spend funds on community promotion and events. He closed by asking the board to view the chamber as a community partner that connects local businesses, supports events and markets the county to visitors and prospective residents.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to confirm specific budget lines during the county’s budget process. The county finance officer and commissioners discussed the chamber request alongside other budget items later in the work session; a final appropriation will be set in the board’s upcoming budget ordinance and public hearing.