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By Megan Anderson
Hometown News
When Gene Moorhead left the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in May, there was a lot of debating about whether he was fired or resigned. The former executive director has continued to be a popular conversation topic recently, but for a different reason.
In the weeks since his departure, Moorhead has been hard at work, creating a new chamber of commerce.
Moorhead said he formed his group, the Upstate Piedmont Chamber of Commerce, to be a “pro-active, pro-business, and pro-economic development organization”.
Days after unveiling his new chamber at a press conference on June 5, Moorhead, the group’s President and CEO, made a short presentation to members of the Blacksburg Town Council.
“We think the growth in Cherokee County is going to be on this side of the river because of the land available on Interstate 85, Route 5 Access, U.S. 29,” Moorhead said. “We like the position here.”
Though Town officials didn’t revoke their membership to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce as councilman Darren Janesky initially requested, the town did unanimously vote to become a charter member of the new Upstate Piedmont group as a non-profit member.
“For the betterment of our town, I’m in favor of joining,” Mayor David Hogue said.
While the organization’s top economic priority will be bringing an airport to Cherokee County, Moorhead is also interested in diversity, and has reserved board member positions for representatives from Cowpens and Chesnee.
“Our activities will consist of monthly seminars for our membership concerning issues that will be informative in the area of business efficiencies, available grants, legislation, and economic development,” a press release said.
The group is operating out of office space at 201 E. Buford Street and already has most of the spots on its 12-member board of directors filled.
Among its board members are Ann Fesperman, Executive Director of the Upstate Workforce Investment Board; Brenda Grubbs, owner of Print Depot; Darren Mason, President of the Gaffney Downtown Business Association; Vic Sarratt, Chairman of the Cherokee County Airport Committee; businessman Danny Stacy, community leader Bill Van Antwerp; John Wall of John Wall Realty; and George Kirby, owner of Kirby’s Gifts and Flowers, and President of the Blacksburg Business Association.
Kirby was initially attracted to the organization because “of their vision to bring about more business and economic development to this area”.
After some research, he joined on as a board member because it felt like a good fit for him.
“I felt this organization shared my belief to help bring about opportunities, not only to this generation, but to generations to come.”
megan@hometown-news.com
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