Western Tidewater is blessed with a number of organizations whose good work for the benefit of the community often goes unnoticed and those whose efforts are responsible go unrecognized.

The Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce is one of those organizations. The Chamber and its staff, Executive Director Teresa Beale and Office Manager Melissa Rose, work tirelessly to create and promote events that showcase and support the local business community.

This past Thursday, the Chamber held its annual Community Expo, and those who were unable to attend missed the Chamber’s best effort to date. The exhibition hall at Paul D. Camp Community College’s Regional Workforce Development Center, a community jewel in its own right, was packed with exhibitors and vendors. The large crowd that braved the day’s cold, wet weather witnessed a fabulous showcase of what our local business community has to offer. It was a spectacularly successful event.

Our local business community has weathered a difficult storm over the last few years, and all indications point to the fact that we have survived and are beginning to experience recovery. The Chamber deserves a huge portion of the credit.