News and Updates

Open Broadband CEO Alan Fitzpatrick (left) and CIO Kent Winrich are cutting the ribbon, with NC Sen. Kathy Harrington, Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin, City Council members Ryan Schrift and Doug Gadd and Mayor Pro Tem Martha Stowe, who is holding the ribbon. Holding the ribbon on the left is Belmont City Manager Adrian Miller. Also representing Open Broadband, on the second row, are Jason Crawford, Stephen Morris, who is behind Alan Fitzpatrick, and Joe Giarmo. Dr. Stephen Hannon, third from right, chairs the Board of Directors of Gaston Innovation Group, the organization working to develop the TechWorks project in Gaston County.   

High speed internet and TechWorks are two of the major tools necessary to attract entrepreneurial businesses here

Wireless high-speed internet is coming to downtown Belmont with the arrival of Open Broadband. Open Broadband CEO Alan Fitzpatrick made the announcement at a launch reception and Chamber ribbon-cutting in the space being developed to become the TechWorks business innovation center at 52 Ervin Street in Belmont. Rivermen Brewing soon will open in a separate space in the same building, and more than 100 who attended the Open Broadband announcement enjoyed refreshments and beverages at Rivermen after the ribbon-cutting. 

Open Broadband, TechWorks and the City of Belmont are collaborating to make free public WiFi available along Main Street in Belmont and in Stowe Park. High-speed internet service also will be available for businesses to purchase. Internet speeds will range from 25Mbps to 1000Mbps..

A pre-signup period is under way now, and service is expected to be available in January 2018. More information on the service at http://belmont.openbb.net.

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Open Broadband CEO Alan Fitzpatrick announcing the arrival of high speed internet in Gaston County. 

Owners Patrick and Shelby Collins cut the ribbon with Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin, Collins Cleaners staff members, Chamber members and friends. 

First Gaston location for 25-year Charlotte Dry Cleaner

New customers were lining up at the counter at Collins Cleaners this morning as Chamber members and friends gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the first day of business at the Belmont location beside the new Harris Teeter store. The address is 905 South Point Road in Belmont. Owners Patrick and Shelby Collins have been in business in Charlotte for 25 years, and already have many Gaston County customers. The full-service dry cleaner offers free pick up and delivery service along with alterations, shoe repair, wedding gown care and other services. A public open house is planned for this Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2:30 with refreshments, special offers and more. More information on Collins Cleaners at 704.398.1525, or www.collinscleaners.com.

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Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County Executive Director Mary Harris (center left) with Gaston Jaycees President Andrea Schrift, Montcross Area Chember President Ted Hall (left) and Gaston Regional Chamber Interim CEO Reeves McGlohon. 

Newcombe Center available for booking holiday events 

Members of the Montcross Area Chamber and Gaston Regional Chamber came together for a joint networking event in the The Johan Newcombe Event Center at Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County at 1840 E. Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia. The Newcombe Center, which seats more than 300 for dinner and accommodates many more for a reception, was decorated for the holidays so guests could visualize celebrating their corporate, club or family holiday event in that space. H&M Catering provided refreshments for the event, and Gaston County Jaycees were the beverage sponsors. 

The Johan Newcombe Event Center, the Johan Newcombe Meeting Room, and the Jon B. Closson Board Room rentals are available for use by contacting Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County. Rental Fees directly benefit Habitat Gaston’s building program. For more on Habitat for Humanity or the Newcombe Center, call 704.874.0499, or visit www.habitatgaston.org.

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Owners Andy and Kirby Crotts cut the ribbon to open their new showroom on South New Hope Road, with members of their Budget Blinds staff and MACC Board members Dick Cromlish of School Resources (left) and Greg Beal of the City of Mount Holly (right).

Budget Blinds of Gaston is one of the top performers in the nation

Budget Blinds of Gaston County has a new office and showroom in the business center at 3826 S. New Hope Road, Suite 10, Gastonia, NC 28056. Owners Andy and Kirby Crotts invited Chamber members and friends, customers and the public to their open house and ribbon-cutting. One of the top performing Budget Blinds franchises in the nation, Budget Blinds of Gaston County has been in the top 20 of more than 1,100 other operations in each of the past three years. Products and services offered for homes and offices include blinds, shutters, drapes, rugs and more. For more on Budget Blinds, call 704.864.8778, or visit www.budgetblinds.com/southgastonia.

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Andy May and staff at Dignity Memorial and Hillcrest Gardens cut ribbon with Chamber members. 

Hillcrest Gardens celebrates more than 50 years of service

Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery in Mount Holly has been serving Gaston County residents for more than 50 years.The Dignity Memorial and Hillcrest Gardens staff, along with Montcross Area and Gaston Regional Chamber members, paused today to honor that tradition and to celebrate recent renovations to the offices and grounds of the cemetery. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted, a catered lunch provided and many prizes awarded.

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Office and grounds improvements celebrated at Hillcrest Gardens on Highway 27 in Mount Holly.

The Gaston Outside GO MONTH observance concludes on October 30, with a GOTOBER FEST in downtown Mount Holly, with food trucks, craft beer, music, street festival activities, bounce houses, drum line and Gaston Dance performances, open house at Discover You and much more. Volunteer recognition and a short program planned about 6 p.m. During each week of October Gaston Outside focused on a different aspect of life in Gaston County, including, business and industry, education and workforce development, restaurants and retail businesses, and cultural and recreation opportunities. For more details, go to www.gastonoutside.com/gomonth  ... 

GO MONTH concludes with a GOTOBER Festival on October 30.  

October 1 - 7 ... Buiness & Economic Development 

October 8 - 14 ... Education & Workforce

October 15 - 21 ... Restaurants & Retail

October 22 - 28 ... Culture & Recreation

October 30 ... GOtober Festival, Downtown Mount Holly, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m., with music, food and fun

At top, Harris Teeter Belmont Store Director Charley Toothman is addressing the large crowd before cutting the ribbon, with Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin, Montcross Area Chamber President Ted Hall and Gaston Regional Chamber Board Chair Brad Drury.

Many grand-opening specials in effect for a limited time

A decade of anticipation resulted in much of the population of Belmont turning out for the grand opening of a new Harris Teeter store on South Point Road Tuesday. The 53,000-square-foot store, which is the anchor for the commercial and residential Belmont Town Center project, opened after a 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting. The address is 905 South Point Road. Hours are 6 a.m. until midnight seven days a week. Store Director Charley Toothman cut a ribbon and along with his team invited hundreds (maybe thousands) of eager shoppers to check out the store, which includes a Starbucks, a pharmacy, a butcher’s market, a farmer’s market, fuel center and much more. Be sure to check out the limited-time grand opening discounts, including one on gasoline at the fuel center.

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