08/27/2026
Yesterday I had a member ask how the Data center coming to Sullivan County affects the Chamber and what the chamber does?
I think this is a great question!! The arrival of a data center brings a lot of attention to what the Chamber actually does and it has definitely impacted how busy things have become for the Chamber.
The Chamber’s role isn’t to manage the data center or make decisions for the project. Our role is to connect people, businesses, resources and opportunities. With an investment of this size coming to Sullivan County, those connections become even more important.
We get busy making those connections. 🤝
That means understanding what our local businesses need, learning what opportunities may be available to them, and connecting businesses with the right people and resources. It also means building relationships with the companies coming into our community and helping create a bridge between them and the businesses already here.
And the impact goes beyond business.
Growth at this level touches education, housing, childcare, workforce development, healthcare, infrastructure and tourism. All of these pieces are connected.
We are already seeing increased activity and interest in Sullivan County. More people are coming into our community, more questions are being asked, and there is more interest in what Sullivan County has to offer. That naturally creates opportunities for our tourism partners, restaurants, lodging, attractions, retail and other local businesses. (Fun fact our chamber is part time. I’m also your part time Tourism Director)!!
From the Chamber and Tourism side, that means more conversations, more connections, more information to gather and share, and more work to help our businesses and community be prepared.
I spend a lot of time in conversations, asking questions, listening to concerns and opportunities, gathering information and connecting the dots between businesses, community leaders, regional partners, schools, housing and workforce resources, and those coming into our community.
The Chamber is not here to be for or against a particular project. We are here for our business community and our community as a whole.
When something this significant comes to Sullivan County, we don’t sit back and wait to see what happens. We get to work. We build relationships. We share information. We connect resources. We help our businesses understand where they may fit into the bigger picture and we work to make sure Sullivan County is ready for the opportunities and challenges that come with growth.
It has made for a very busy Chamber and (Tourism)that’s a good thing. There is a lot happening, and our job is to be engaged, informed and making the connections that help move our community forward. 🤝
