Contributed by Jennifer McCurdy, Executive Director • The Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Well...I am celebrating my one-year anniversary at the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce. Wow! I feel like I just stepped into my role as Executive Director. What an exciting and fun year I have had. Let’s recap…

September means Boom Days, and the Chamber assists by providing information to visitors. It’s an exciting event, and we look forward to assisting again this year! Maurey Roberts does a great job planning and making Boom Days successful each year. This is the single largest annual event for the City of Fort Payne, and it brings in tourists by the droves. Boom Days is always a fun time for our community!

Next was the 11th Annual Mayor’s Cup at Terrapin Hills Country Club, thankfully everything was planned and ready to go, so I just had to show up. We had a great time, and are now planning this year’s Mayor’s Cup for October 12th at Terrapin Hills Country Club. We would love to share more information with you, so reach out to us and let us know if you are interested.

Then we held our Annual Halloween Block Party. This was started several years ago by our downtown merchants. Held on Halloween night, we block off downtown streets, and businesses set up and hand out candy from 5pm to 7pm. It’s a fun and safe way for children to trick or treat, and we always look forward to seeing those crazy creative costumes.

Up next, we love our Annual Christmas Parade, which is held the second Friday night in December (weather permitting). We aren’t ready to hand out parade applications yet, but stay tuned. Then, in January, we held our Annual Chamber Banquet where we honored businesses for their achievements. This year we honored DeKalb Regional Medical Center, Large Business of the Year, Wilson & Fiquett DMD, Small Business of the Year, The Optimist Club, Friend of Fort Payne and Judge David Rains, and the V.I. Prewett Lifetime Achievement Award.

Most recently, we held our Women in Business Luncheon honoring three distinguished women — Dr. Aimee Skelton, Woman Owned Business; Dana Grimes Brewis, Woman in Community Leadership; and Brandi Lyles, Woman in Management. Our Chamber Member boutiques participated in a fashion show, and our tables were decorated by Chamber Member stores as well.

While these events were happening, we were busy offering our Members monthly networking and learning opportunities such as Breakfast and Business, Success in Sixty, and Business After Hours. We also partnered with Jacksonville State University’s Small Business Development Center to offer free business consultations at the Chamber.

I must mention, the Krazy Kudzu Follies Show is planned for March, and we are already talking about ideas. What a fun event!

If you haven’t already, please peruse our new website at www.fortpaynechamber.com. If you are a member, please log in and update your information. As a member, you can post jobs and specials as well, and even member to member specials can be posted once logged in.

We added sixty new members since last September and look forward to growing members and programs this upcoming year. Everyone needs a momentary break from the mundane, so slip away and join us at one of our many monthly events. We’d love to visit with you! For more information about the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce, email info@fortpaynechamber.com or give us a call at (256) 845-2741.