The Eden Chamber of Commerce presented its annual business expo Thursday at the Events Center inside Eden Mall. There were more than 50 businesses present, and about 500 people attended. 

Jean Ann Wood, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said she thought this year’s event went pretty well.

“We had many new features like our live cooking demonstrations and Tri City Automotive being able to display cars inside the building,” she said. “We are always looking for ways to improve the event and encourage the community to come out.”

Attendees were asked to provide $1 admission to go toward the Duane Best Auditorium Seat replacement project. Three seats were purchased with the proceeds.

The event also featured more than 100 door prizes and a grand prize of $500 in cash.

Among the businesses which participated this year, Rockingham Community College’s Small Business Center presented information on the Growing America Through Entrepreneurship (GATE) program. This is a project designed to help rural, laid-off workers start or expand their own small business. It’s offered through the U.S. Department of Labor with several state agencies. Participants can receive special training and other kinds of assistance with their businesses.

Lori Babcock, owner of Premier Bookkeeping Services, completed courses through the GATE program. She said the information she received was valuable for her business.

“Not only does this program help with the resources needed to start your own business, but they also helped me to purchase special software I needed and with certifications,” she said. “It’s an orientation to all different types of legal structures, and really all that you need to start your own business and have a modicum of success.”

Elizabeth Treadwell, owner of Leveret Books based in Eden, said she found out about theprogram by accident.

“Having been laid off, you really don’t know what your options are, and it’s kind of an overwhelming process,” she said. “To have this potential in the GATE program is great. I was taking a workplace readiness class right after I was unemployed, and I just happened to see a flyer for it. I thought to myself that it looked interesting, so I went for it.”

Participants also got the chance to climb aboard the Job Link Career Center mobile unit. They are part of the Northwest Piedmont Workforce Development Board. The mobile unit has all the comforts of a regular employment center with computer workstations and access to the Employment Security Commission job bank. 

Donald Stowe, mobile job link center coordinator, said the unit also doubles as a classroom.

“We perform customized training for corporations with our smart board technology and we can offer resume assistance and job referrals,” he said.

There are a total of three mobile units in the state. Stowe’s unit covers everything between Burlington and Asheville.

For additional information on Job Link’s mobile employment services, visit http://www.northwestpiedmontworks.org and click on “Mobile JobLink Center.”

For additional information on the GATE program, visit http://www.ncprojectgate.org.

LATALA PAYNE/The Eden News