Chambers of Commerce talk state’s biggest challenges

JACKSON, Tenn. — Chamber of Commerce executives across the state of Tennessee meet to talk about drawing visitors, residents and revenue.

“It’s things that our chambers are facing every day, and it’s just the best way to get together and share ideas,” said Suzie Lusk with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.

For three days, these community leaders brainstorm about how to make their individual communities a better place.

“We all face a lot of the same problems, and it’s just great to not recreate the wheel and to learn from one another,” Lusk said.

Some West Tennessee mayors were in attendance. Humboldt Mayor Marvin Sikes said this type of conference is important in improving the state.

“We want commerce and we all want that retail store to come to our cities, so we all have the same dreams and wants,” Mayor Sikes said.

State economic officials say the biggest challenge is workforce development, which is something the Jackson Chamber of Commerce says it’s focusing on.

“If you bring companies here, they have to have the workforce to make them successful, and so that’s probably the biggest issue that we face right now is how to improve the workforce development and how to get everybody trained to work,” said Shirley Jones, senior vice president of public affairs with the Jackson Chamber.

One of the activities during the conference is meeting with West Tennessee colleges and universities for a panel discussion about jobs after the diploma.

There are nearly 100 chambers in the state of Tennessee, and the conference will move to East Tennessee for the 2017 meeting.