Click HERE to download a 2010 schedule of Chamber meetings and events!

Get Ready – the Chamber’s annual member publication, the Hillsborough Area Business and Community Relocation Guide, will be coming out in mid-March. The Guide is published by The News of Orange County and is distributed EVERYWHERE in Orange County. Advertising opportunities available!

Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber Scholarships Available

(click here for application form)

The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for its scholarship program. The program, funded by an annual Chamber Golf Classic, is open to seniors and December graduates of Orange County Schools (Orange High School and Cedar Ridge High School) and private/charter or home school students within the Orange County School District who are seeking to further their education at a four-year or technical institution.

Libbie Hough, Chair of the Chamber’s Education Committee, said “We are so fortunate to have had a successful golf event in 2009. We have a substantial amount of money to give away this year to applicants.”

Emphasis is placed on the applicant’s financial need. Other factors considered include a personal essay, community service and other extra-curricular activities, two letters of recommendation (it is preferred that one letter be from a current Chamber member), and academic performance (school transcript). Scholarship finalists will also participate in a brief interview. Each application must include the application form, which is available from school guidance offices and Career & Technical Education Coordinators or click here.

The deadline for submittal of applications is Monday, April 12, 2010. Applications must be submitted to the Chamber office at 102 North Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

The 16th Annual Chamber Golf Classic will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010 at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. Danny Lloyd, Chair of the Tournament Committee said, “The Chamber Golf Classic is a great opportunity to network with other business people and while we’re having fun, we’re influencing the future of Orange County by helping local residents meet the costs of college.” Sponsorship and player opportunities are available now!

Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County, Inc. Announces Opening of Hillsborough Office

Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County (FVPC) is pleased to announce the opening of their satellite office at 109 Millstone Drive, Suite B, in Hillsborough, NC.

Staff and volunteers trained in domestic violence advocacy will be available to meet with clients on Mondays from 9 AM to 1 PM and Wednesdays & Fridays from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Clients may visit the office at the above times or call (919) 929-3872 to schedule an appointment.

FVPC’s mission is to prevent and end family violence in Orange County through direct services and community education. Services offered include a 24-hour hotline, crisis counseling, safety planning, support groups, emotional support, assistance with Domestic Violence Protective Orders, court accompaniment & advocacy, and community education. All services are confidential and free of charge.

For further information contact:
Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County, Inc.
Beverly Kennedy, Executive Director
executivedirector@fvpcoc.org
http://www.fvpcoc.org
P.O. Box 187
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-3872 (office)
(919) 929-7122 (24 hr. toll free hotline)

Business Planning Course offered at the Durham Tech Orange County Campus

The Durham Technical Community College Small Business Center and SCORE Chapel Hill/Carrboro are presenting a ten week business planning course at the Durham Tech Orange County Campus in Hillsborough. The course entitled Planning for Success – How to Write an Extraordinary Business Plan will cover, in depth, all aspects of starting and running a business and writing a business plan.

Topics covered in the course include understanding your products & services, market research, writing a marketing & sales plan, small business operations, and understanding, analyzing, and using financial statements to improve your business. Successful businesses have strong, dynamic business plans. 80% of small businesses are not in business five years after their start-up. Most of the businesses that fail did not have a well thought out and well written business plan.

This course is for anyone starting or currently operating a business who wants to learn how to write a better, more complete business plan. Beyond the mechanics, this course will challenge you to perform the critical thinking necessary to be more successful in your business. The ten week course begins on Thursday, February 18th and runs from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. The cost is $149. You can register by calling the Durham Technical Community College Small Business Center at 919-536-7241 extension 4505 or send an email to gulleyd@durhamtech.edu.

Hillsborough Chamber Names Recipients of Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, and Helping Hand Awards

At its holiday gathering, held in Hillsborough on Wednesday, December 16, the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Helping Hand Awards.

The Business of the Year Award recipient is Saratoga Grill. The Saratoga, located at 108 South Churton Street, is owned and operated by Colleen and Kevin St. John and is one of Hillsborough’s finest restaurants.

The Chamber’s Business Person of the Year award goes to Mike Moylan of Sports Endeavors. Mike is one of the founders of Sports Endeavors, the world’s largest soccer retailer. As one of Orange County’s major employers, Sports Endeavors provides jobs for up to 350 employees, both here in Hillsborough and at its Mebane location.

The 2009 Helping Hand Award was awarded to the Backpack for Kids Program. Funded by a grant from the Bayer Crop Science Foundation, Mark Foreman of Carillon Assisted Living learned of the program and wanted to get Carillon residents involved in outreach to the community. Each week, volunteers gather to fill backpacks with food and snacks for needy children to take home over the weekend.

Click here to read more and see pictures from the Holiday party. . .

Click HERE to read Dist. 23 Senator Ellie Kinnaird's report from each week of the Legislature's session.

Click HERE to read Dist. 50 Representative Bill Faison's report from each week of the Legislature's session.