Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to shut doors

Contrary to reports that emerged earlier this week, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is not looking to merge with the SML Chamber of Commerce, said Danny Reynolds, president of the Franklin County Chamber's board of directors.

He said the Franklin County Chamber's board members are hoping to collaborate with the SML Chamber, other related entities and business leaders to help reorganize the Franklin County Chamber.

Reynolds said a reorganization is needed to keep the 49-year-old nonprofit operating. It has been struggling to keep up with expenses as membership has declined 54 percent in the past three years.

Members of the Franklin County Chamber received a letter dated July 27, asking them to vote by Aug. 6 to either close the chamber on Dec. 31 or keep it open and make a $470 donation. Fifty votes and donations were needed to raise $23,500. According to Reynolds, only four members voted to stay open.

It's not clear exactly when the chamber will close its doors, but in the July 27 letter, board members said they didn't have enough money to operate past Aug. 15.

The lack of finances means the chamber's physical location at Rocky Mount's welcome center on Franklin Street will close because there aren't funds to pay the staff, said Reynolds.

The organization moved to the welcome center almost a year ago in an agreement with town officials in which chamber workers staff the welcome center and the town picks up the utilities and doesn't charge rent, said Town Manager James Ervin.

While the chamber office will close, Reynolds said work promoting county businesses will continue.

As the chamber reorganizes, Reynolds said he hopes county businesses will come together to support it.

"I think we'll come out the other side even stronger," said Reynolds. "I just hope in the near future that enough businesses in the community see that this is a very important format that we need to support."

He said the chamber is necessary to assist businesses and encourage new ones to locate in the county.