At a glance
Businesses can register for the 2012 Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo for $600 for chamber members or $700 for nonmembers. Individuals can also register to attend the event, slated for Aug. 16 at the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center, at no charge through Aug. 9. To register or for more information, call (770) 887-6461 or visit www.cummingforsythexpo.com.
The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is looking for companies to take part in the 2012 Business Expo.
The annual event, which has been held for more than seven years, offers business vendors a chance to spotlight their organizations while networking with hundreds of community members.
“We have a total of 77 booths available and 45 of those have been filled, so that’s about 32 booths that are still available as of right now,” said Jason Mock, director of the chamber’s Small Business Services Center.
The cost for business vendors is $600 for chamber members and $700 for nonmembers, Mock said.
He said this is the second year the event, set for 1 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16, will be held at the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center. The larger venue allows more opportunities for businesses and attendees.
“That allowed us to utilize more space and have different things going on,” he said. “The conference center allows us to do things like hold classes and we’ll also this year be having a working lunch that our silver sponsor is going to be hosting for us from 11:30 [a.m.] to 1 [p.m.].”
Mock said the working lunch is free, but anyone interested in participating should sign up in advance.
“We do encourage everybody to pre-register for this because space is limited,” he said. “The goal is to get people in the door, get people there for our vendors so those vendors can interact with the community and so our community can interact with our business community.”
Mock said individuals interested in attending the expo have until Aug. 9 to register to attend for free.
“After that we will shut that down to do paid admission at the door,” he said. “But we do encourage everybody to take advantage of that free admission beforehand.”
Mock said the expo, which in 2011 drew some 800 spectators and is expected to top 1,000 this year, provides networking and business education rare opportunities.
“If you pre-register for the lunch, you get an opportunity to network with over 70 vendors, have a working lunch free of charge, plus three classes throughout the day free of charge,” he said.
“Nowhere in north Georgia, or I don’t even think anywhere in Georgia, can you get this kind of connection with no charge.”