Tom Bishop, Executive Director, Patrick County Chamber of Commerce gave an annual report to the Chamber membership at the annual banquet on March 25.
He reported that there was a slight decline in membership in 2009, to 319 members, compared to 325 at the end of 2008.
He reported on the business expansions in the last 12 months to include:
1. Opening of the Primland Lodge and Restaurant and Observatory
2. Parkway Technology Solutions expansion
3. Groundbreaking for the new jail
4. Groundbreaking for Step, Inc.
5. Ribbon Cutting for Claudville Computer Lab
6. Angel Overlook on Squirrels Spur Road
7. Pioneer Community Hospital ribbon cutting
8. Blessings From Above child care
9. Dan River Book Store, Meadows of Dan
10. Homecare opening of a new office in Stuart
11. Layman Tire new ownership
12. Results of Stuart expansion and office buildout
13. Town and Country Market new owners
14. Endeavor Computing Consulting new business
15. Verizon cell phone store in Stuart
16. Hall Propane new construction and new business in Stuart
17. New batting center on Route 8 South of Stuart
18. New cell phone tower in Meadows of Dan (Verizon)
19. Planned new cell phone tower near Nettles Ridge area by U. S Cellular, just outside Stuart, VA
20 Patrick County school construction project, $24 million underway
21. Uptown revitalization project, Stuart
22. Farm Market, Amphitheatre and Comfort Stations in downtown Stuart
23. Route 8 Connector road in Stuart
24. Mayo River Trail, phase I, downtown Stuart - in planning stage
Bishop talked about some of his passions for Patrick County:
1. Completion of the four lane Rt. 58 from Stuart to Hillsville
2. Providing handicap accessibility for the Stuart Post Office
3. Keeping the membership and general public informed through our Chamber News, Calendar of Events and Area Attractions on our Chamber web site.
4 Repairing pavement on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Patrick County
5. Tourism promotion. Which provides jobs and economic development. Tourism is a business. Many of our members are largedly in the tourism industry
6. We will promote tourism at every opportunity..
At the Chamber:
• Created Reynolds Homestead Ornament and mug
• Represented Patrick County at the following festivals and events providing Tourist Information:
 Martinsville Trade Show-Martinsville, 2009 and 2010
 Strawberry Festival – Stuart
 Fourth of July Car Show-Stuart
 Covered Bridge Festival-Woolwine
 Kibler Valley River Run – Claudville
 Peach Festival and Folk Fair
 Patrick County Fair-Stuart
 Patrick County Music Association - numerous
 Civil War Reenactment and Highland Games – Ararat
 Seniors Health Fair – Stuart
 Reality Store at the High School
 Tourism demos at Lambsburg Welcome Center
Our Blue Ridge Visitor Center at Meadows of Dan continues to be a critical place to promote our County. We are assisting people from over 40 states and numerous foreign countries. The center is strategically located at the “Gateway to the Blue Ridge� which has tremendous impact on our local economy.
We have continued to partner with media to advertise what we do. This includes new advertisements:
 The Laurel Lea, Meadows of Dan
 WHEE Radio in Martinsville
 Mayodan and Madison AM station
 Mt. Airy News
 Festival News – VA and NC
 WHEO, 1270 AM Stuart
 Cooking With Paul TV shows, BTW21 Martinsville
 Martinsville Bulletin
