Cars packed the parking at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center for the Chamber of Commerce’s Home, Garden and Business Expo on Friday and Saturday. John Carey, the director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, was at the expo to cut the ribbon and visit with businesses.
Eighty area vendors took over the convention center, to meet with the public and network with other local businesses. Tourism partners took over the back room, including the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB), the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, the Cambridge Glass Museum, the Living Word Outdoor Drama, and others. Attendees could grab a freshly popped popcorn from the Cambridge Performing Arts Center and listen to bluegrass hits from the Pennyroyal Opera House.
Jennifer Vincent, Chamber of Commerce president, said, “We tried something new this year as we included high school students from Buckeye Trail, Cambridge, Meadowbrook and Shenandoah. We brought in students to show them the local job opportunities and let them know that there are reasons for them to come back after college, or for summer employment.”
Two hundred students watched mock interview skits, showing what to do and not to do and heard from the Army, the sheriff’s office and others.
Debbie Robinson, director of the VCB, has been working at the home show since 1987 when it was held at the home show. On the tourism side of the expo, Robinson said, “We’ve been buzzing. It allows our local community to see and to remind them what’s in their own backyard. It is a good opportunity for our tourism partners to hear the questions that our community has, and to remind them of our hours. It’s just a win-win for us.”
The large meeting room was packed with vendors, seating areas and a staging area for media. As the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafted through the air, courtesy of Woodlawn Dental, attendees gathered information from King Karpet, Dingey’s Lawn Care, Next Home New Horizons realty, Ohio Health, and even the Guernsey County Sheriff’s office among others.
Food trucks lined the walkway out front, providing lunch and hot beverages. Burger Brigade, the Flying Naked Pig and Giddy Up and Joe kept busy as vendors and guests alike grabbed a bite.
As baskets lined almost every table for a chance to win a prize, the large drawing was held on Saturday afternoon and included a lengthy list of prizes, including a pool pass to the Salt Fork State Park Lodge, a picnic table from Guernsey Industries, and even a new Blackstone griddle.
For more information about the expo visit the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce website, call 740-439-6688 or visit the VCB website.
