OC Small Business Resource Fair draws Crowd

A small business resource fair drew a crowd Tuesday evening in Seneca. This free event, presented by the Oconee Economic Alliance and the Oconee County, Walhalla and Westminster Chambers of Commerce was part of the county’s desire to be designated as an entrepreneur friendly community, explains Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell. “It is through a program called Ten at the Top and also the Appalachian Council of Governments. They choose Oconee County to be a test pilot for this program and we are going through this resource fair and also we are putting fourth a small business resource guide, so that if someone has an idea to be their own boss or get an idea out into the marketplace, we want to be an advocate for that. We want to eliminate the roadblocks and knock down those barriers so that those people can pursue the American dream.” A theme of the small business resource fair was everyone benefits from economic development, adds Blackwell. “Economic development is a team sport. We are working with all three Chambers of Commerce and the City of Seneca to put this event own. At the end of the day, what everybody is focused on is making sure that the entrepreneur has the resources they need and the small businesses that are already here, because there are roughly 1,500 of them already in Oconee County that they have the resources they need too. We do not want to forget about anybody. If each of our small businesses hires one person we have eliminated the unemployment gap here in Oconee County.” Another small business resource fair is already being planned for next year in Oconee County after the success of Tuesday’s inaugural fair at the Shaver Recreation Complex in Seneca.