Chamber President Williams: 'Bridge building' important for growth

Photo by Dave Boyd Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce President Scott Williams addresses attendees at the ChamberÕs February breakfast in the Franklin Health & Fitness Center's Pine Room.

By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com

   "As far as the Chamber is concerned, I think one of the big things we've got to do this year is build bridges," said Scott Williams, President of the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce.
   "We've got to build relationships. Keith Young and David Bautista have been working very hard with the Visioning Committee and the vision for Elizabethton and Carter County.
   "I want to take the next step and take that visioning process and work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, with our city government, with the county government, with interested parties within our community and say, 'How can we come together, and how can we start building relationships, in order that we can have a common vision, in order that we can have a common goal and direction for our community to grow and to prosper?'"
   Williams believes Elizabethton and Carter County have a "window of opportunity that is open, but it's starting to close. That window of opportunity is the opening of Interstate 26 and the growth of business and industry into our area.
   "I think some counties may have a little jump on us. For example, Unicoi County has an exit that goes out to a cow pasture right now, but that cow pasture is an opportunity for them to attract business and industry into their community. Johnson City, obviously, is working on the exit at Boones Creek Highway, or Boones Creek Road, in order to expand their development out there, and that's a window of opportunity for them. Over in Kingsport, the Tri-Cities Crossing on Interstate 81, that exit is open and that is a window of opportunity for them.
   "We need to look at the window of opportunity that we have and say, 'Okay, here it is, what are we going to do to maximize that window of opportunity and how can we work to get sustainable growth in our community for the kids who are wanting to graduate high school and stay in our community, for the people here in our community who are wanting to have good paying jobs with good benefits?'.
   "It benefits all of us. It benefits the hospital. It benefits the furniture stores downtown. It benefits the banks. It benefits the grocery stores."
   From a Chamber standpoint, "the only way that commerce works is that if people are making money in order to spend money for goods and services. In order for them to make money, we've got to have good jobs and good commerce here.
   "We've got really good people in our city government, in our county government, in our business, industry and development sectors, in our private sectors, in our Chamber of Commerce that have great ideas, that have great initiatives, and I feel that we can come together and work together."
   The Regional Chamber Coalition, Williams believes, "is a very important component of what we're talking about here, because the Chamber Coalition is really looking at regional growth. Bringing big business into the area helps us all. I think it's an important component of that.
   "Looking at things from a regional perspective, for example, the highway that's potentially being talked about from Piney Flats out to the airport, can be a potential boost, not only for Sullivan County, but also for Carter County.
   "I think there are things that are happening in the Quad-Cities area that we can work together as a Chamber Coalition and create a better environment for these businesses and industries to come into the Quad Cities and say, 'We really want to look at putting a place here.'
   "I'd love to see a car manufacturer come into the area. I'd love to see the growth and development that Greenville/Spartanburg has had over the years. I'd love to see the growth and development that Tuscaloosa, Ala., has seen over the recent years. I'd love to see that growth and development happen here in our community in Northeast Tennessee.
   "Getting folks into Northeast Tennessee, no matter what county it's in, is going to be the work of the Regional Chamber Coalition. I know that our Chamber of Commerce is going to look closely with the Regional Chamber Coalition to try to find a win-win situation for everybody in Northeast Tennessee.
   "It's obvious that our Chamber of Commerce is primarily focused on what we're doing here in Carter County and Elizabethton, but it's also important for us to work together as a member of the Northeast Tennessee Coalition to make sure that our whole region is moving forward and progressing."
   Elizabethton/Carter County is a wonderful place for businesses to relocate to, according to Williams. "I think once they come here, we've got great people in our community. We've got a great place to live. We've got a great environment, great scenery...
   "We are centrally located in the eastern half of the United States. The new interstate that has opened up gives us transportation opportunities. The Tri-Cities Regional Airport is just primed to grow. I think we've got a great ability to flourish with business and industry and maybe even international commerce."
   The efforts of the Elizabethton Downtown Business Association (EDBA) to revitalize downtown "fits perfectly" with Williams' dream of growth in the county. "I think the Elizabethton Downtown Business Association is very much needed in Elizabethton and Carter County," he said. "I think the plans that they're making and the things that they're doing are very positive for commerce in Elizabethton/Carter County. I think it's a good thing, a really good thing."
   For more information about the Chamber, call 547-3850.