GEDC, Chamber Highlight Economy and Businesses During Two-Week Campaign

GAINESVILLE, TX – The Gainesville Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce (Gainesville Chamber) are partnering together to highlight the small business community and overall economy of Gainesville, Texas over a two-week period beginning May 1, 2022. National Small Business Week and Economic Development Week are two awareness campaigns geared towards educating the community about the impact of small business and economic development. National Small Business Week is May 1 to May 7, 2022. For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Economic Development Week is May 9 to May 13, 2022. Created in 2016 by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest international professional trade association for economic developers, Economic Development Week aims to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere. The GEDC and the Gainesville Chamber will be celebrating the impact of small businesses and the local economy through a series of events, both in-person and virtual, beginning May 1 and ending May 13. “Gainesville would not be where it is today if it were not for the small businesses that have started here and grown here,” said Jennifer Shumate, Executive Director of the Gainesville Chamber. “The Chamber exists to support and advocate for all small businesses in our area and we couldn’t think of a better way to spotlight their importance than to participate in National Small Business Week.” “The GEDC is proud and excited to partner with the Chamber on this two-week campaign,” said Audrey Schroyer, Executive Director of the GEDC. “We spend every day working with our business community and want the general citizens to realize how vital our businesses are to our current and future success in the region.” A full calendar of events is available to view on both Facebook pages for the Chamber and the GEDC. Events will include a Collective Ribbon Cutting for businesses without a storefront or those who have not yet had a ribbon cutting, an extended networking event called “Business Over Brunch” to celebrate all businesses, a special Rise & Shine hosted by the GEDC, social media blitz days for both organizations and a photo contest. “We hope to have a great inaugural campaign so we can continue to do this year after year,” added Shumate. The photo contest is designed to encourage members of the community to get out and explore all of the businesses and attractions Gainesville has to offer. Community members can submit their photos for the contest using certain tags and hashtags, which will enter them into a drawing to win a basket filled with prizes collected from businesses and attractions all over Gainesville, and valued at $500.00 total. Complete instructions for the photo contest will be available starting May 1st on both organization’s social media channels. “We are going to plaster the community in small business and economic development awareness,” said Schroyer. “We couldn’t do what we do without the business community and this is one small way we can show our appreciation for these individuals being the backbone of our economy.” To learn more about the campaign, please visit the GEDC and Chamber Facebook pages and watch for the campaign kick-off video on Sunday, May 1st.