Upcoming Chamber Expo Features Plenty of "Competitive" Opportunity!

While we may often think of "competition" as a negative word, when it comes to the upcoming 2010 Fayette Chamber of Commerce's COMMUNITY EXPO, "competition" is all about fun, the future, Fayette youth and yummy food! "There is pretty much something for everyone!" according to Virginia Gibbs, Fayette Chamber president. "This EXPO is by the Fayette community and for the Fayette community."

Junior Entrepreneur 2030 Competition

In conjunction with the 2010 Fayette Chamber’s Community Expo, the Young Professionals of Fayette County are hosting the first annual high school Junior Entrepreneur Competition in Fayette County. Winners of this exciting competition will be awarded prizes worth working for.

Sponsored by The Southern Federal Credit Union, the purpose of this competition is to encourage and recognize students who want to start their own businesses and improve the future of Fayette County. Students will create a business plan for a new business that would thrive in the year 2030. Participants will develop a structured business plan, as well as innovative ideas to launch and support such a business.

"This competition will give Fayette students an outlet to express their entrepreneurial and transformational ideas, organize them into a valid business plan, and help them learn the process involved in creating a successful start-up business," says, Sarah Smith of YP Fayette."

The drama of this competition is that students are required to challenge traditional business fundamentals and develop new ideas appropriate for a different kind of future. Student teams of one to three members will submit plans and also do an oral presentation. Submissions are due to the Chamber by September 1. Resources are available for participating students and further information is available via the Chamber's website.

Future Fayette—2030 Arts &Science Contest

Another exciting future-forward competition being held in conjunction with the Fayette Chamber Community Expo, and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, is a technology, arts and science contest for high schoolers. "Creating a Community Where Technology, Arts, Sciences and Social Innovation Connect" is the theme. High school students are challenged to portray a future-focused "smart community" via a project that is visionary and innovative in transforming Fayette County into a sustainable global, multi-cultural community.

Students may choose from categories such as Transportation, Energy, Water, Food, Technology, Quality of Life or Health. Up to five members may participate on a team. Many forms of media may be used to portray and explain this new type of Fayette community environment. Winning schools will receive $500. Each student on the Future Fayette 2030 Arts & Science overall winning team will receive a netbook computer. Category winners will receive recognition ribbons/certificates. Winning entries will be exhibited at the Community Expo and also at the Rotary Club's Dragon Boat Races and International Festival in September.

Wii Competition for Young and Old

Games2U is sponsoring a Wii competition for youth ages 5-18, seniors age 60 and above, and Fayette Chamber member company employees of any age. Get your game on for sixteen two-member teams that will duke it out in a single elimination competition of twenty minute game segments and a championship round. A grand prize and runner up prizes will be awarded. All competitions will take place at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus, in Fayetteville during the Community Expo.

Best Booth and Platinum Plate

Traditional Fayette Community Expo competitions include an award for the exhibitor with the “Best Booth” and a “Platinum Plate” award presented by Dolce Atlanta Peachtree Conference Center for the Fayette business that presents the tastiest entries in the three categories of Small Bites, Drinks, and Desserts.

So, let’s see: Whether you’re young, old, smart, a great chef, business savvy, an entrepreneur, futuristic, artistic, techwise, a Wii buff, or most anything else, there’s pretty much every reason to visit the Fayette Chamber website so you won’t miss out on any registration dates for these worthy competitions. Visit www.FayetteChamber.org and click on the EXPO photo tab. And, mark down September 14 from 3pm to 7pm to be sure you don’t miss the Fayette Community Expo. In the spirit of healthy competition, let’s race each other to the calendar!---

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Chamber Gears Up for 2010 Expo

The Fayette Chamber is anticipating another great year at the 20th annual Community Expo on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at New Hope Baptist Church, 551 New Hope Road in Fayetteville. The theme of this year’s Expo, Building Business, Building Community, parallels the chamber’s goal to maintain and enhance our community’s quality of life by supporting the local business community.

Businesses interested in exhibiting at the Expo can register now at www.FayetteChamber.org. Being an Expo exhibitor is a low-cost way for businesses to reach a large cross-section of the community. Last year’s Expo drew over 1500 visitors who came to see what products and services were available in Fayette County. Early birds can save $50 by registering before July 16th. For more information, contact the chamber at 770.461.9983 or visit the website.

The Expo has something for everyone. Whether your interest is in B2B networking or reaching out to consumers, the Expo provides an avenue for making important connections to help businesses gain exposure. It’s a fun, lively environment where entire families can enjoy strolling the aisles, sampling tasty treats, registering for great drawing prizes and discovering the great products and services that can be found right here in our own back yard!

Special features this year include the Biz Cafe’ that will provide free coffee, referrals for exhibitors and resources to help small businesses; a young entrepreneurs’ competition, a youth art show and a Wii competition. Prizes will also be awarded to the Best Booth and the winner of the Platinum Plate Award.

The Expo is part of the Fayette Chamber’s Find it in Fayette!R campaign to encourage consumers to support local businesses.

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“Find it in Fayette!” Community Expo Best Booth and Taster’s Choice Winners Announced!

Over 1500 people gathered at the Fayette Chamber’s Find it in Fayette! Community Expo held on September 15th at New Hope Church, setting a new record for attendance at this annual event. Business owners as well as community members enjoyed visiting over 130 exhibitors who showcased their products and services at the county’s largest tradeshow.

Each year one outstanding exhibitor is awarded a prize for winning the Best Booth Contest, sponsored this year by Oddo Brothers, CPAs. The judging for this contest is based on two parts: selection from a panel of independent judges as well as a vote from visitors to the event. The winner was Affordable Catering (www.affordable-caterer.com), owned by Dan and Mandy Nelson. They will receive a promotional prize package worth over $800 from the Chamber.

This year an additional award, the Taster’s Choice, was added to honor one outstanding food exhibitor. Sponsored by Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Conference Center, the winning Taster’s Choice display was selected by input from a judges panel led by Dolce’s Chef Len, as well the results of the visitors’ vote. The winner was The Cheesecake Boutique (www.thecheesecakeboutique.com) owned by Marie Selkridge-Ashford. She will also receive a prize package worth over $800 from the Chamber.

The Expo had a special focus on health, wellness and promotion of a “go green lifestyle”. A variety of exhibitors provided health screenings, flu shots and provided free health awareness materials for the community. In addition, many booths included information on environment-friendly ideas for home and work, energy efficiency and other ways to “go green”.

The Fayette Chamber’s Find it in Fayette! Community Expo was presented by Delta Community Credit Union. Additional sponsors included AT&T of Georgia, Coweta-Fayette EMC/Relyco, The Southern Federal Credit Union, Comcast Cable Communications, Cardiovascular Consultants of Georgia, P.C., Jim Mothorpe, Capital Investment Companies, Dynamic Website Management, Fayette County News, Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree and Ravin Homes.

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Coming Soon! Find it in Fayette! Community Expo

Food, fun and fabulous exhibitors are what you’ll find at the Fayette Chamber’s Find it in Fayette! Community Expo on Tuesday, September 15, 3-7 pm at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Admission is free!

The focus is Health, Wellness and GoGreen, and there will be plenty of interactive exhibits to help visitors get moving toward a healthier lifestyle. A variety of health screenings will be available including blood pressure, oral cancer, blood glucose and more. The Medicare Diabetes Screening Project will be represented with information on diabetes awareness. LifeSouth’s Bloodmobile will also be available and the Braelinn Kroger will be offering flu shots for $25.

Interactive exhibits will include Dixieland’s Virtual Roller Coaster, Georgia Power’s Storm Center and Smart Meter, and the TCIS-The Complete Insurance Source Mobile Unit. Car enthusiasts will enjoy seeing the new Tesla Roadster, an energy-efficient electric car provided by Georgia Power. With food samples, interactive exhibits, and lots of prizes and give-aways, there will be something for everyone at the Expo!

Visitors will enjoy strolling the aisles visiting over 100 exhibitors and sampling great food from a variety of local restaurants and caterers. Food exhibitors providing free samples include: Affordable Catering; Contemporary Catering, Mangarelli’s Pizza; Panda Express; Shane’s Rib Shack; Something Delightful Bakery Café; The Cheesecake Boutique; and Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center. Chick-fil-A Towne Center will be at the Expo selling sandwiches for donations to benefit the Joseph Sams School.

Mark your calendar now so you won’t miss this great community event! New Hope Baptist Church is located at 551 New Hope Road in Fayetteville. For more information, visit www.FayetteChamber.org or call the Chamber at 770.461.9983.

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Find it in Fayette! Community Expo

Sponsor representatives (l-r) are: Mary Ann Bell, Coweta Fayette EMC; Debbie Johnson, Dennis Breslin, Regina Steffens and Lisa Beavers from Cardiovascular Consultants of Georgia; Roch deGolian, Ravin Homes; Robin North, Dynamic Image Web Development; Matt Guthrie, Fayette County News; Melanie Myer, Delta Community Credit Union; Michael Lear, The Southern Federal Credit Union, Jim Mothorpe, Capital Investment Company; Michael Rossetti and DeSales deGolian from Ravin Homes. Other sponsors not pictured are: AT&T Georgia; Comcast Cable Communications; Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree; and Novo Nordisk.

The “Find it in Fayette!” Community Expo is coming up on September 15, 3-7 pm at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA. The Fayette Chamber hosts the Expo each year to bring local businesses and the community together. As part of a Health, Wellness and GoGreen focus, this year’s event will feature health screenings and tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as information on how to conserve energy and preserve our environment. Food samples and lots of prizes and give-aways make the Expo fun for everyone. Admission is free. Don’t miss the largest trade show in the county – mark your calendar today for the Expo!

The Fayette Chamber thanks our sponsors for making this great event possible.

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Entrepreneurs Can “Find It in Fayette” at Expo

At the Fayette Chamber’s “Find it in Fayette!” Community Expo in September, entrepreneurs and small business owners can get connected with local, state, and national resources that can help them start and grow a business. On Friday, September 19, the Expo will feature the Entrepreneur Extravaganza sponsored by Heritage Bank and Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree. Whether you are looking to start a business or for ways to grow your existing business, the Entrepreneur Extravaganza can help by providing resources for writing a business plan, obtaining a business license, importing and exporting, obtaining financing, and more.

This year’s Expo will run for two days and is the largest trade show in the county. The community is invited to come see over 150 exhibitors present their products and services. There is no charge for the public to attend, and there will be tasty samples from local restaurants, interesting product demonstrations, and a chance to see what local businesses have to offer consumers. So, mark your calendars for Friday, September 19, 3 pm – 7 pm and Saturday, September 20, 2008, 11 am – 3 pm. The Expo will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville. For additional information, please contact the Chamber at (770) 461-9983.