The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce held its annual fall workshop retreat Sept.17-18 in Myrtle Beach with 84 participants present.

Speakers were Ted Abernathy, Executive Director of Southern Growth Policies; Otis Rawl, Executive Director of the S.C. State Chamber of Commerce; Sheila Cox, representative for the S.C. Port Authority; Oscar Fuller, Development Consultant for Cherokee County Community Foundation; Jim Cook, Executive Director of Cherokee County Development Board; Josh Crotzer, Member Services Coordinator for Broad River Electric Cooperative; Theo Lane, District Manager for Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Anne Fesperman, Executive Director of Upstate Workforce Investment Board; and Cherie Pressley, Coordinator for Upstate Regional Education.

Some of the topics covered featured Cherokee County’s economic development projections, labor force issues, the expansion of the Charleston seaport, available utility grants and programs for startup businesses, community education goals, and non-profit organization involvement. Presentations from the workshop are now accessible through the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce website, cherokeechamber. org.

Kayla Robbs, recently named executive director of the Chamber, said, “I was truly impressed with the professionalism of this workshop. The discussions indicated that Cherokee County is poised for explosive growth along the I-85 corridor. We are entering an exciting and challenging time for our community. Through events such as this workshop, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce will help meet those challenges.”

In addition to the speakers’ agenda, a government forum was moderated by Chamber member Ed Elliott of Correll Insurance. Government officials participating included Sen. Harvey Peeler, state representatives Dennis Moss and Steve Moss, Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue, Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly, Gaffney councilmen Thomas R. Reid and S. Bernard Smith, Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue and Blacksburg council members Joe Ross, Darren Janesky, and Janie Wilson.

During the question and answer session, Sen. Peeler noted his top priorities as education, healthcare and economic development. Rep. Dennis Moss and Rep. Steve Moss along with mayors Jolly and Hogue indicated support for the proposed Cherokee County Airport.

Sen, Peeler thanked the Chamber for adjourning Friday’s workshop earlier than originally planned so participants could attend the funeral of Lance Cpl. Christopher Fowlkes on Friday afternoon.

The chairman of this year’s retreat committee, Debbie Mauney, was assisted by Chamber president Jack Trnavsky, Josh Crotzer, Brian Yates, Ed Elliott, Theo Lane, Brooks Moss, Jan Moss, Vance Hammond, and Nancy Elliott. Mauney announced the committee will review the event and begin planning in early October for next fall’s workshop.

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce was established in 1947 and is a non-partisan, non-political organization promoting business, industry, and community.