On Monday, Feb. 1, a meeting was held at the Alderson Community Center for both small business owners, as well as those thinking about starting a small business within the town.
The meeting served as a “brainstorming session,” and acted as the first step in developing a partnership between business owners and town officials.
“The meeting was very beneficial and a lot of good things are happening,” Alderson Town Mayor Travis Copenhaver told the West Virginia Daily News. “This was the beginning of a collaborative effort geared towards turning Alderson into a destination location.”
In a January 26th letter to area businesses, Copenhaver wrote, “Your business alone is just that (a destination). However, your business in partnership with other businesses and the municipality gives an opportunity for us all to benefit.”
Copenhaver believes that the Town of Alderson, “has the ability to be an overnight destination that is affordable and safe for families.”
Among the area businesses in attendance at the Monday morning meeting were Sunset Berry Farms, Big Wheel Restaurant and the Riverbridge Campground. Also in attendance was Joe Baker of the Bargain Box, a retailer of refurbished appliances, as well as representatives from City National Bank.
Beth Gill, marketing director of the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was also present during the meeting.
Margaret Hambrick, a volunteer who serves as public information officer for the Town of Alderson, told the West Virginia Daily News, “the next step is going to be for folks to start working on creating ‘destination packages.’”
Hambrick said that another meeting will be scheduled for the near future.
The West Virginia Daily News will provide a more in-depth accounting of the particular points discussed at the meeting, as well as any plans for future meetings, in the coming days.
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