WEEKLY NEWS
As we begin 2021, we wanted to take a moment to review for you, our members, your Chamber’s mission.

As the premier business resource hub in Botetourt County, your Chamber offers a strong voice for issues that affect business both locally and regionally, innovative programming and networking opportunities, and as a reliable, collaborative, strategic partner your Chamber helps to ensure economic growth and prosperity for businesses in our area. Founded in 1945, your Chamber celebrated its 75th anniversary this past year, and as an association of your friends and neighbors has been consistent in its focus to help members buy local, stay local, and live local. Our diverse membership includes businesses of many sizes, industries, and types, all combining to form a thriving business community. 

Our four core areas of focus for member advocacy include Business Education, Infrastructure, Economic Development/Business Retention, and Workforce Development. We look forward to helping your organization grow and prosper in 2021!
Here's a quick look at what we've accomplished together in 2020! ⏩
State of the County Address
Key to the Chamber in partnership with The Bank of Fincastle
Lawrence Equipment’s Case Dealership ribbon cutting
Food Lion To GO ribbon cutting
Member One Daleville location ribbon cutting
Comfort Inn and Suites ribbon cutting
MKB Realtors ribbon cutting (cancelled)
Best Practices for Home Office Success Webinar
Lunch & Learn Marketing Miracles
Lunch & Learn Navigating Business in the Face of COVID19 – Enforcement Actions
ELS Leading Teams for Growth – Robyn Tuck, VWCC
ELS Human Resources Skills – Kathy Martin, Roanoke College
ELS Critical & Creative Thinking – Scott Crawford, Virginia Tech
ELS Influence Without Authority – Jennifer Havens, VWCC
Community Conversations with Congressman Cline, Delegate Terry Austin, Chairman Billy Martin, Board of Supervisors (two times in 2020)
BCCOC Scholarship Application – High School Seniors
After Hours featuring Kyle Edgell | Caricature Artist
After Hours Nick of Thyme Bakery and Catering
After Hours Business Networking Event (fun hat)
Botetourt Chamber Golf Classic
Gift Cards recognition to area nurses to celebrate National Nurses Week
Food Lion donations | $500 gift cards donated to 4 area food banks
Annual Meeting of the Membership
Grow with Google webinar
Customer Service & Hospitality Webinar with VBR & SBDC
BizEd Leadership Development Workshop | Communication in an Age Diverse Workplace
BizEd Leadership Development Workshop | Coaching for Conflict
BizEd Leadership Development Workshop | Succession Planning
Annual Dinner BBQ at Bailey Wick Farm
Networking Lunch: Farm to Table
Network Lunch: Marj Easterling Big Lick Screen Printing
Networking Lunch: Preparing Your Own 30 Second Commercial
The Bank of Fincastle Tinsel Trail and Museum Open House
Agricultural Committee Meetings
Ambassador Meetings
COBI Circle of Business Influence Meetings
2020 BoCo XPO for 5th Graders
2020 High School Career Summit at Bonsack Community Life Center
250th Celebration Honoring Botetourt businesses in partnership with the 250th Anniversary Committee
Small Business Saturday in Botetourt County
Chamber Chill Out
Mentor Hours for participants of The Gauntlet pantries
UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS
Free & open to Chamber members and their guests. Free coffee + $5 for a hot breakfast.

1/13, 8 - 9 am at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Troutville.

All COBI meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at the same location: Comfort Inn & Suites or by using the Zoom link to attend virtually. Register to attend or to receive the Zoom invite using the link.
Botetourt Young Professionals Committee Meeting
1/7, 12-1 pm at the Tap House

The Botetourt Young Professional Group is for anyone who works, lives, or wants to connect in Botetourt County. One of the main goals of the Botetourt Young Professionals is to not only network with other YPs in our area, but to give back to our community through acts of service. We strive to bring together young professionals, so we may learn, grow, improve our professional skill set, and reach our full potentials as the future leaders of our area. Individuals of all professions and ages, are welcome to attend our events and activities. 

Mission: To grow a community of young professionals, where we can enhance our leadership skills, create opportunities, and give back to our community through acts of service. 

Reach out to Kaleigh Duffy, Committee Chair, if you're interested in joining this committee and taking part in their exciting events. Visit their Facebook page today!
BizEd presents this workshop virtually | $5 members/$7 future members
1/28, 7:30-9:15 am

Do any of these statements sound familiar?
✅ Sales have declined or plateaued, and we can't get them to the next level.
✅ I am not sure the sales team is doing the right activities.
✅I cannot find the right salespeople and the training I give them does not seem to work.

This Workshop is designed to address the sales challenges small and medium sized companies face. You will learn the top 10 reasons why sales are not increasing as planned and the actions that must be untaken to create the foundation for sales growth. 

Targeted for companies from all industries, where sales leadership is not a core strength. Owners, Presidents or C-level executives who are in a leadership position and responsible for the company’s sales results. 

Bring your own breakfast to this BizEd workshop! A zoom link will be sent once registration is complete.
1/29, 7:30-8:45 am
Free admission to the webinar with registration.

Join the Botetourt Chamber of Commerce and Botetourt County for the second annual State of the County Address on January 29, 2021. This year's presentation will be virtual.

County representatives will update the community on the county's accomplishments and plans for the future. The speakers for the event will include Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, County Administrator Gary Larrowe, a School Board Member, and Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Russ.

The speakers will be confirmed once we get closer to the event. Please submit questions when you register. A link to the zoom webinar will be sent once the registration is

Sponsors: Member One and Botetourt County.
QUICK LINKS
Link to our calendar
▶1/7, 12-1 pm, Botetourt Young Professionals (YP) committee meeting (first Thursday of every month), at the Tap House. Open to those who want to serve & help on the planning committee.
▶1/13, 1/27 COBI Meetings - use the calendar link to register
▶1/28, 7:30-9:15 am BizEd Building a Sales Structure for Superior Results - Virtual | Presented by Glenn Kurtz, James River Sales Advisors. $5 Members | $7 Future Members
▶1/28, 1-7 pm, YP Networking Event (the 4th Thursday of every month). January networking event is at Tizzone restaurant.
▶1/29 7:30-9:00 am 2021 State of the County
▶4/22 The Million Dollar Question Golf Tournament at Ashley Plantation. Don't miss out on sponsoring this event! So many opportunities this year! Register a foursome before 2/1 for a $40 discount.
CHAMBER RESOURCES
Contact information for our Interim Executive Director, Keith Hartman:
Cell: 540-384-0493 | Chamber: 540-473-8280
The Chamber is looking for qualified candidates to apply for the Executive Director position. More details can be found here.




REBUILD! VA Small Business Grant Program ⏩
Select the image link to learn more
The SBA still has Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available. Please share with small businesses. 
From SBA: Reminder! If you are a small businesses, nonprofit organization of any size, or a U.S. agricultural business with 500 or fewer employees that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you can still apply for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Click here to apply.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Voting starts 1/11 to 1/20! Stay tuned for details about how to vote!! The winner receives $1,000 for the artifact's restoration!

The Botetourt Historic Society and Museum is honored to have their collection titled, Manual of Religious Instruction, circa 1857, as one of Virginia's Top 10 Endangered Artifacts selected by the Virginia Association of Museums. For the last 10 years, the Virginia Association of Museums has highlighted underrepresented communities and the often untold stories found among museum collections in this specially themed year of Conserving Diversity.

Published in 1857, this catechism and series of Biblical teachings, compiled by an Episcopal priest, was “prepared with a special view to the instruction of a very numerous class of persons in our Southern States.” The existence of such a work recognizes the interest of enslaved persons in religious education, and the determination of established church figures to reach out to the enslaved community. Fr. John Hoff, the author, emphasized his focus on “oral teaching” in the subtitle in acknowledgement that his desired audience was generally illiterate.

The book was a gift to the Museum from relatives of the Price family of Eagle Rock, Botetourt County. “C. T. Price + Family, Prices Bluff 1891” is inscribed in the front of the book. In 1850, Charles Thomas Price was only a boy, but his father John M. Price was a prominent figure in the county. The Slave Census of 1850 shows that he “owned” 58 enslaved persons. By 1860, his widow, Eliza, had reduced the number to 33. Young Charles was a member of the Fincastle Rifles at this time, and witnessed the execution of John Brown in 1859. A student at VMI, he later served in Company C of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. He survived the War and lived in Botetourt County for the rest of his life, dying in 1921.

✅Get ready to vote for your favorite endangered artifact daily, from 1/11 to 1/20 and help recognize the great work our Botetourt County Museum does preserving our history!
The Roanoker asked readers to nominate the next wave of Roanoke's leaders. Selections were made based on their career achievements, involvement in the community and other factors. Be sure to congratulate our Chamber Members who were selected:

Alicha Grubb, 29 | Commercial Litigation Attorney, Gentry Locke Attorneys
Brent Hershey, 38 | State Farm Agent/Rocket Mortgage Professional, Brent Hershey Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
John Hull, 38 | Director of Market Intelligence, Roanoke Regional Partnership
David Jones, 37 | Owner/Orthodontist, Roanoke Valley Orthodontics
Katie Martin, 38 | NICU Registered Nurse, Carilion Clinic
Jaclyn Nunziato, MS, MD, 38 | Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology Carilion Clinic Virginia Tech School of Medicine / Executive Director and Founder of Huddle Up Moms
Tim Pohlad-Thomas, 36 | Outreach and Communications Specialist, RIDE Solutions
Leah Stiegler, 30 | Attorney, Woods Rogers PLC
Order cookies and gift certificates today! Cookies ordered today will arrive in mid-January. Contact us to place your order: info@gsvsc.org or 540-777-5100. 
January 12, 6 pm

Join us in an exciting "Virtual Meet & Greet" to gear up for Gauntlet 2021! Stay tuned for more details!
The Gauntlet is Virginia's largest business program and competition with over 525 alumni! Gauntlet 2021 will have virtual and in-person options. If you're looking to learn more about the Gauntlet, this event is for you! If you have an idea, this event is for you! If you are looking for the opportunity to mentor a small businesses, this event is for you! If you want to invest in the growth of your community, this event is for you! If you're looking to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs, locally and across the region, this event is for you! If you're a past alumni and want to share your experience, this event is for you!
Dates: Thursday, Jan 21, Jan 28 & Feb 4
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Built for Botetourt’s future and current small business owners who are:
-Looking to start a new business or service
-Looking for growth over the next twelve months
-Need support prioritizing steps
-Looking for ways to gather feedback from those who determine the future of your business

Learning objective: Create Your 2021 Strategic Roadmap to Success
THANK YOU TO OUR RENEWAL MEMBERS AND OUR NEW MEMBERS
THANK YOU TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!
OUR MEMBERS ARE HIRING
We're happy to share your job posts in the newsletter as we see them on Facebook. If you see one that is already filled, please email us and we'll remove it. Follow the instructions in this link to post any job openings directly to our website: How to post a job in your Chamber account.

Apex Clean Energy summer internship opportunities: Asset Management, Marketing/Communications, Business Development, New Markets, Finance, Public Affairs, IT, Project Management, Land Management, Technology


Carilion Clinic - LPN and outpatient, Carilion Wellness, Coding Consultant



Lentini's - Pizza Maker full time. Please call James at 966-9600 or 798-3997 for job information.

Kissito Healthcare, Brian Center Botetourt - RN to fill the role of MDS Coordinator, with $10,000 signing bonus. Contact Hilleary Downer at 540-473-2288, ext. 3002 or send resume to: hilleary.downer@kissito.org

Lawrence Freight - Lawrence Companies is now hiring for a Class A or Class B Driver Position in our Waste Disposal Division, ACS. Any previous experience in this type of work is a plus. This position will primarily be loading containers on the back of the trailer and delivering to the local landfill. This position will have you home daily and off weekends. Click here to apply or for questions contact Randy at 540-966-4602.

Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council - job listings from their contacts

Small Business Development Center - Roanoke region: Marketing Program Development Coordinator, Finance Program Development Coordinator, Social Specialist, Client Engagement Coordinator

SURVEYS TO BENEFIT OUR AREA - your participation is needed!
Community Health Survey sponsored by Carilion Clinic (open online until 1/31/21)
What do you do when you are sick? Does your community offer the options you need to live a healthy lifestyle? What are the most important issues affecting health in our community?

To better answer these questions and provide the health resources needed by our community, Carilion Clinic is partnering with community organizations to conduct a
comprehensive community health assessment.

You can help by completing a short survey. Once you complete the survey, you can enter to win a $100 grocery store gift card.
COMPLETE OUR SURVEY

There are two ways to participate in this short survey:
By phone: 888-964-6620
After you complete the survey, enter to win a $100 grocery store gift card! 
COVID-19 RESOURCES
T H A N K 💚 Y O U
S P O N S O R S
VISION PARTNERS
CORNERSTONE PARTNERS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
Join us as a bronze sponsor. Call or email Keith Hartman.