This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

THI
Chamber active voice in Hancock County
BY RICHARD MEEK
Several new programs and a new bureau illustrates the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce’s active role in the community.
In the past year, the Chamber has been instrumental in launching an adult education program, and has begun the Hancock County Tourism Bureau, the first of its kind in county history. Additionally, the Chamber recently graduated its first leadership development class.
“The Chamber provides a unified voice for business in Hancock County,” Chamber Executive Director Cindy Vernon said. “The Chamber offers businesses a chance to be involved in a focused, efficient manner. It is business’ arm of action in the community, working everyday to promote positive awareness both within and outside Hancock County.”
The Chamber is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors that direct committees touching on nearly everly aspect of life in the community.
The Beautificiation Committee is intended to address the appearance of the county.
Its programs includes biannual cleanups, adopta-road/street, anti-litter campaigns in the schools, a parkway commission that oversees all major thoroughfares and arteries, and honoring a business monthly for its beauty.
The Education Committee helped form and plan the Hancock 2000 community education-program. After careful planning, the program kicked off last fall with classes offered at Bay High School and Hancock High School. The response was tremendous, as was the spring enrollment.
More classes are planned for this fall.
The Economic Development is intended to further the development and growth of Hancock County through promotion and communication of the assets of the community as well as to assist in the process of educating citizens on various issues. The committee played an active role in helping school bond issues pass in both the Hancock County and Bay St. Louis-Waveland school districts.
The two bonds totaled $29 million.
The Environmental Committee is currently actively invovled in helping the county locate mitigation sites, crucial to the continued growth of Hancock County. The committee is also involved with water quality, wetlands issues, and working with local officials toward a countywide central sewarage disposal system.
The Leadership Development Committee helped put together a leadership program that lasts nearly one year. The program is designed to promote the development of interpersonal relationships among the participants which will provide a network to address the needs of the community.