AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Local businesses took center stage Thursday night at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting at the Bell Auditorium.

The theme was all about entrepreneurship and this meeting was an opportunity to highlight local businesses.

This is the largest chamber event each year and this was the 116th edition.

“It is a wonderful evening and a wonderful way to celebrate our member businesses, our community, our achievements and our goals for the upcoming year. It’s also an opportunity to say thank you to our board members, our outgoing board chairman and welcome our incoming executive leadership to include our new chair Kim Wilder,” Angie Cox, President and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, said.

The keynote speaker was James M. Bailey, the President and CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneuers.

The chamber also celebrated accomplishments present and past.

Cox said, “We are always so thrilled to see new faces that have not been able to participate or attend a chamber event before and it’s a wonderful opportunity for folks to get to network and to meet each other, meet new friends and say hello to old friends.” 

Speakers shared some key goals for the year including enhancing their workforce development initiatives, supporting economic growth, and community engagement.

“We have an amazing staff, an amazing board of directors, some awesome ambassadors who promote us on the streets and around town and we welcome new chamber members and entrepreneurs and new business in the area to check us out because we love to serve you and to be a voice for you and to advocate on behalf of you,” Cox said.

Cox also said she hopes people see how hard the chamber works for our community.