BY TED HALL

Special to The Gazette

December 23, 2007

A new Web site featuring all six towns in eastern Gaston County signals more changes ahead for the Belmont Chamber of Commerce.

The new Web site provides information on all towns in the South Point and River Bend townships — Belmont, Cramerton, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly and Stanley.

At a two-day planning conference this fall, members said the Belmont Chamber should take a more regional approach, because its membership is growing regionally.

More than 36 percent of the Chamber’s 300-plus members list addresses outside Belmont, a major shift in less than three years. For decades a strictly Belmont institution, the Chamber is serving members now from all areas of eastern Gaston County, as well as Gastonia, Charlotte, Lake Wylie and other South Carolina towns.

Businesses are joining because they recognize eastern Gaston as a rapidly growing area offering great economic opportunity.

Going into 2008, Belmont Chamber directors are considering a name change, possible additional office locations and expanded services.

In a report to members on the planning conference, President Paul Lowrance and President-elect Titus Workman wrote, “We don’t foresee a time ever when the Chamber will not have an office in Belmont; however, we can envision that it also may have offices in other towns in the region. And we think a name change may be necessary to describe a Chamber serving a broader community.”

“As the largest town in the region, extending more services to Mount Holly will be a high priority, in addition to Cramerton, Lowell, McAdenville and Stanley,” Lowrance added.

Meanwhile the Chamber is concluding a record year, with membership having grown 262 percent since 2005. Highlights of 2007 include:
   
• Topping the 300-member milestone.

• Expanding staff from one part-time to two full-time positions.
   
• Publishing first membership directory with The Gaston Gazette.
   
• Launching new website with Clickcom of Charlotte.
   
• Publishing first welcome guide for eastern Gaston with ColeHouse Publishing.
   
• Co-sponsoring first job fair with Gaston Workforce Development.
   

• Sponsoring with Charlotte and Gaston chambers and Mount Holly Community

   Development Foundation a regional conference on green development.

• Increasing the highly successful golf tournament started in 2006 by 50 percent.
   
• Taking leadership positions on important issues such as the Cramerton ABC election,  

   bonds for Gaston College, opposing the transfer of water from the Catawba River basin,

   supporting school bonds and Belmont parks bonds.