Cloudy skies didn't stop nearly 200 from attending the Chamber's annual Mingle on Main Street, which was held at the Historic Suffolk Visitors Center on May 29.

Recognizing that some businesses struggle with finding a sufficient skilled and experience workers, the Chambers monthly Suffolk Division meeting, which was held on May 20, focused on workforce development resources in Suffolk and Western Tidewater. The Chamber thanks Priscilla Taylor of Duke Automotive for coordinating the program. Bettie Cuddyer, Chair of the Chambers Suffolk Division, welcomed the presenters and attendees. Speakers included Corey McCray, Executive Director of the Pruden Center for Industry and Technology; Michele Lachtara, Suffolk Workforce Development Center; Allan Britz, local veteran representative for the Virginia Employment Commission; and Randy Betz, Vice President of Workforce Development for Paul D. Camp Community College.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is pleased to once again be working with the cartographic and marketing firm of Target Marketing Inc. to publish a new, up-to-date, full-color Hampton Roads Street Map and Resource Guide. More than 12,000 will be printed and available for the next 12-16 months. This publication is the only official map endorsed and distributed by the Chamber.

Small businesses employ 50 percent of the U.S. workforce. The Chamber understands the importance of small business to our economy, and honors their efforts each year. The Hampton Roads Chamber, in partnership with the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads (SBDC), held its 30th annual Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21 at the Marriott Chesapeake. Nearly 300 people attended the event, which coincided with the U.S. Small Business Administrations National Small Business Week.

Nearly 150 members of the business community and Chesapeake school system attended the Chesapeake State of the Schools breakfast on May 14

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) National Small Business Week held May 12-16 this year.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerces annual State of the City Luncheon was held in Suffolk on May 6 at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront Hotel and Conference Center with a sold-out crowd of nearly 500 in attendance. The Suffolk luncheon was the final event in the five-part State of the City series. This series, hosted by the Chamber, allows networking among business professionals, elected officials and provides information of each city's progress over the past year and glimpse into the future.