CLAYTON, NC – The Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC)’s mission is to be a champion for education in Johnston County, so CCOC strives to be an advocate for all students, teachers, and principals in Johnston County. CCOC supports the Johnston County Public School System during its rebuilding process because of the demonstrable effects a school system has on business, economic development and workforce development in a county growing as quickly as Johnston County. The CCOC Education and Legislative/Governmental affairs Committees express support to Johnston County Public Schools, the Interim Superintendent, Dr. Ben Williams, and most importantly the school system’s teachers, principals, and students.  
 
At this pivotal time in our county, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce supports unity and leadership between the JCPS Board of Education and the County Commissioners. This is an opportunity to set a path forward to provide sound educational institutions to our students, which will subsequently promote businesses, economic development, and workforce development in Johnston County and the Town of Clayton. For these reasons, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce asks that the Johnston County Commissioners and the Johnston County Board of Education work together for the greater good of this county, the students and the teachers. The County Commissioners and the Board of Education working together to address the current budget for the rest of the 2020 school year was a great first step. Moving forward, CCOC advocates for a collaborative plan to address long term challenges.  
 
The Clayton Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman, Edwin Jackson, said “On behalf of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, we feel as though the Interim Superintendent, Dr. Ben Williams, is both competent and committed to making the crucial improvements Johnston County Public Schools need. Especially during this decisive election year, it is important that the superintendent, Board of Education and Johnston County Commissioners continue to elevate the sense of unity they have started to curate, for the betterment of Johnston County.” 

It is critical for businesses, industries and citizens of Johnston County that the County Commissioners and the Board of Education continue to work together to find solutions that are in the best interest of students and teachers.  
 
For more information on CCOC’s mission and initiative-based committees, visit www.claytonchamber.com/committees. In an effort to help voters stay informed leading up to the Board of Education election, CCOC hosted a candidate forum which can be viewed in full on the CCOC YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DIcEbWuW3gg. 
 
About the Clayton Chamber of Commerce
The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit civically engaged economic advancement organization led by the businesses that invest in our mission. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC)'s mission is to champion business, economic development, and education in Clayton, North Carolina. CCOC achieves this mission by Collaborating with various organizations through forums, task forces, committees, and even one-on-one conversations; advocating within the community, various organizations, and governments; and providing innovative solutions, community pride, business marketing opportunities, networking, and professional development through various signature events and other initiatives. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. 

CLAYTON, NC – The Clayton Chamber of Commerce will host its “Platforms at the Podium: Johnston County Board of Education Candidate Forum” at The Church @ Clayton Crossings on Wednesday, February 12 from 6p.m to 8p.m. This free, public event is a chance for Johnston county residents and constituents to listen and learn more about the candidates for the Johnston County Board of Education primary election in March. The event will be moderated. Each candidate at the forum will have an equal chance to introduce themselves and present their platform to attendees.  
 
Clayton Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Dana Wooten, said “The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event in order to continue its mission of championing education in Clayton, NC and Johnston County as a whole. 2020 has the potential to be a transformational year. It is important for all citizens to be informed because of the huge effect the Johnston County school system has on business, economic development, and workforce development in this county.” 
 
By attending, the audience can learn more about each candidate, their platforms, and the impact they may have on the education of our Johnston County youth. This event is free and open to the public. 
 
About the Clayton Chamber of Commerce
The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit civically engaged economic advancement organization led by the businesses that invest in its mission. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC)'s mission is to champion business, economic development, and education in Clayton, North Carolina. CCOC achieves this mission by collaborating with various organizations through forums, task forces, committees, and even oneon-one conversations; advocating within the community, various organizations, and governments; and providing innovative solutions, community pride, business marketing opportunities, networking, and professional development through various signature events and other initiatives. Learn more and view all events at https://www.claytonchamber.com/. Please refer to the Clayton Chamber of Commerce in full, or as “Clayton Chamber” or “CCOC.”  

CLAYTON, NC -- The Clayton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Community Awards Ceremony, presented by Yellow House: The Community Place, was held on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at The Clayton Center. The Clayton Chamber Commerce presented its annual awards along with Clayton Rotary Club, The Woman's Club of Clayton, Clayton Women in Networking and the Clayton Downtown Development Association. All award recipients are listed below. Congratulations! 

Excerpt from CCOC President/CEO Dana Wooten's Speech:
“Since the Clayton Chamber of Commerce produced its first strategic plan three years ago, it has never strayed away from its mission: to champion business, economic development and education in the great town of Clayton, North Carolina. At the Clayton Chamber, we have set our mission in motion by investing in our community and actively building Clayton’s future every single day. CCOC remains inspired, dedicated and motivated to continue building upon the foundation we have so strongly put in place and I can confidently say that the future of CCOC is so bright.”

Thank you to all of the nights sponsors and attendees. 

​This expert edge is all about how to leverage your CCOC benefits to best market YOUR company. If you are currently an investor with us, this will be a great reminder about many of the beneficial things included in your investment. If you are not an investor with CCOC, read about some of the benefits that you could be utilizing as a member of the chamber. These tips and tricks are coming straight from Samantha and Sara, CCOC’s investor relations coordinators, so if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to them!

As an investor with CCOC, what should I do first?
We recommend that all of our investors consistently check the online CCOC Calendar to plan out which events you want to attend. As a new investor, If you’re not sure which event to visit first, let us recommend our Friday morning events: Good Morning Clayton (GMC) and Chamber U. At GMC, you will have the chance to enjoy breakfast and coffee while networking with other CCOC investors. One of the perks of GMC, is that each person in attendance has the opportunity to give a 20-second commercial to the group. Immediately following GMC, is Chamber U, where Sam and Sara sit down with a small group to go over everything CCOC-related and answer any questions you may have. Coming to a Chamber U session is a great way to get more detailed information on how to utilize your online portal through the CCOC directory. The directory (located on the CCOC website) provides you the opportunity to include information about your company in order to increase brand exposure, harness search engine optimization and leverage the CCOC referral platform. In order to maximize your investment, it is crucial to make sure your portal stands out by adding links to your company’s website, social media, any available coupons you are offering and photos!

How do I access and edit my portal?
In order to access your portal, go to the CCOC website. Under the Directory/Login tab (in the top right-hand corner of the home page) click login. Enter the username and password that was in your welcome email from the chamber. If you do not remember or need a new password, call the chamber or email Samantha <samantha@claytonchamber.com> so she can provide you with a new one. You can change your password manually at any time by going to the “Change Username/Password” section of your portal.

What are the first three things a new investor should add to their portal?
According to Samantha and Sara, after adding the basics (address, phone number, email) the first three things you should add to your portal are:

• Your businesses logo - you want your page in the directory to stand out and be unique! Adding a logo is a great way to do that by reinforcing your brand image.
• Links to your company website and social media pages - this will allow people to go straight from the CCOC website to your pages to learn more.
• Pictures of what your company does as well as a description - this is the best way for the public to really see what services your company offers.

Other things you can add to your portal include:

• Events - these are also posted to the community events calendar on the CCOC website.
• Any available jobs at your company – this allows you to post a job description and accept applications through your portal, so the directory also becomes a talent recruitment tool!

How many people will see the portal?
In 2018, there were 500,000 investor referrals from CCOC’s online business directory. On average, each investor receives 829 referrals a year. As you can tell, this CCOC benefit is always working for YOU! These referrals help your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts and provide brand awareness. They can also convert into clicks, conversations and ultimately clients/customers. 

If you have any questions, reach out to Sara <Sara@claytonchamber.com> or Samantha <samantha@claytonchamber.com>.

2018 was a monumental year for the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. CCOC’s mission driven words—advocate, collaborate, and innovate—were at the forefront of all our 2018 accomplishments. We are so proud to publish our first annual report. If you want to see what our mission (to champion business, economic development, and education in Clayton, NC) looks like in action, view the report  (click the button) below.
Note: If you are viewing from your phone, turn it to horizontal view and view inside your browser.

More than 120 participants gathered at the Clayton Center today to hear experts discuss a federal program that could bring new jobs, companies and investment into designated properties in Johnston County. Known as Opportunity Zones, the national initiative offers deferments and exceptions on capital gains taxes derived from investments made in low-wealth communities. The Town of Clayton and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC) joined the Johnston County Office of Economic Development in organizing and hosting the program, which was sponsored by KS Bank.

"The Clayton Chamber of Commerce champions economic development and we are very proud to produce collaborative and educational initiatives like this for our business community. Below you will the summit press release, program, and presentation from the event. We appreciate your dedication to the Johnston County community." ~Dana Wooten, CCOC President/CEO

 
We continued to make great strides in areas of economic development, legislative and governmental affairs, and education. And we launched a workforce development committee with fresh goals and ideas. Through our impact committees, CCOC has collaborated with the Town of Clayton in order to reach important economic development goals such as the development of Clayton Districts and a demographic brochure.

We are on the steering committee, along with the other JOCO chambers of commerce, Johnston County Economic Development, Johnston County Public Schools, and Johnston Community College, that is launching an exciting workforce program like none you have ever seen called JOCO Works. The hands-on expo will target all 8th grade students in our county and will be held November 14-15, 2019.

CCOC has also expanded our political forum offerings in order to keep Clayton voters informed. We are in the process of launching a re-vamped mentoring program called INSPIRE with Clayton Middle School.

We received a grant to help us expand our award-winning The Clayton Connection app by providing a Clayton tour for our new and current residents in 2019. Something you will hear more about soon.

And we are working on our first annual report to present to all our investors and the public. I could go on…[But quite frankly, I’m exhausted!]
 
And I didn’t even mention our successful Clayton Harvest Festival with our first-ever Military Crossroads despite a hurricane…thanks to the flexibility of our staff [especially Maria Bunn], Dave Brown with The Shindig, Clayton Mid-Day Rotary, and last, but not least, the Town of Clayton. And if you didn’t see the flyover, it was something amazing.
 
The 2018 CCOC board of directors, staff, and members of our impact committees, were all laser-focused on our mission of business advocacy, economic development, and education in Clayton. We reached nearly all our strategic plan milestones for 2018…and then some. And thanks to the generosity of all our investors, this organization had a BIG and POSITIVE impact on this wonderful community. We are so proud of this organization’s work in 2018.
 
You will hear more about CCOC’s impact throughout the night. It is shown in the businesses we cheer. It is shown in the awards we present. It is shown in our collaboration with you all…Clayton Rotary, Clayton Downtown Development Association, and Clayton WIN. It is shown in this crowd. CCOC is heading into 2019 with great momentum and plans…more advocacy, more collaboration, and more innovation. And that only means even more great things are in Clayton’s future.
 
The 2019 Board of Directors and staff of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce thank you all for investing in Clayton by investing in the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
 
Now. Let’s get the party started." ~Dana Wooten, CCOC President/CEO

2018 Award Recipients:

• Business of the Year
  Align Family Chiropractic
• Citizen of the Year
  Larry Bailey
• Innovator of the Year
  Dave DeYoung
• Volunteer of the Year
  Sara Perricone
• Super Star Teacher of the Year
  Kimberly Ellison of Powhatan Elementary
• Leaving a Legacy Award
  Dyrke Maricle
• Ambassador of the Year
  Erin Davis-Belcher
• Clayton Harvest Festival Hero Awards
  Jim Lee (Military Crossroads), Ariel Ramirez (Latin American Festival), Eric Rabuse (Manager of Beautification), Pasquale Goicoechea (Manager of ROTC Volunteers), and Simon Garen (Volunteer)
• Gratitude Awards
  Clayton Police Department
  Clayton Fire Department
• Committee of the Year
  CCOC Economic Development Committee (Ruth Anderson, Edwin Jackson, Kyle McDermott, Dave DeYoung, Kaitlin Crocker, Jim Perricone, Bobby Bunn, Greg Kennedy, Charlie Bell, Beth Watson, Tara Abernathy, and Stacy Beard)
• Key Contributor of the Year
  Boone Williams
• 2018 CCOC Building Clayton’s Future campaign investors were  recognized for their contributions to the Clayton community in 2018: Grifols, Johnston Health, KS Bank, Novo Nordisk, and OPW Global (Connector Investors); Caterpillar, Compare Foods, Clayton Glass & Mirror, Duke Energy, HomeTowne Realty, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, Managed Print Solutions, United Community Bank, and Woody’s Computing Services (Supporter Investors); and BB&T, Carolina Comfort Air, Chick-fil-A of Garner, First Citizens Bank, Huebner Family McDonald's, Johnston Now, Strategic Systems, and Studio TK (Foundation Investors).
• CDDA Award Recipients:
  • 2018 CDDA Appreciation Award
    James Lipscomb
  • 2018 CDDA Outstanding Downtown Business
    Deep River Brewing
  • 2018 CDDA Outstanding New Downtown Business
    Boulevard West
  • 2018 CDDA Volunteer of the Year
    Clayton High School ROTC
  • 2018 CDDA Best Façade Improvement Under $10,000
    Rejoyce! Gifts
  • 2018 CDDA Best Façade Improvement Over $10,000 
    Vinson's Pub + Eatery
• Clayton Rotary Club Award Recipient:
  • 2018 Clayton Rotary Club Community Service Award
    Dean Penny
• Clayton WIN Award Recipient:
  • 2018 Clayton WIN Business Woman of the Year 
    Melanie Marlow

Video

After attending ESGR’s Operation Boss Lift earlier this year (see post below), CCOC President/CEO Dana Bales Wooten had the pleasure of attending the ceremony at the State Capitol on December 5, 2018 to witness Governor Cooper signing a “Statement of Support for National Guard and Reserve Employees.”

Read more about the ceremony here >

Original Post Date: 08/23/2018
CCOC President/CEO Dana Wooten was privileged to be selected for a program facilitated by the North Carolina Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). This program, a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience traveling via an Air Force C-17 Globemaster, provides employers and chambers with the opportunity to observe the extraordinary responsibility, skills, and professionalism of today’s citizen-warriors serving the in the nation’s Guard and Reserve and as current or potential employees.

“This trip has really opened my eyes to an existing qualified employable workforce that needs to be courted.” ~Dana Wooten, CCOC President/CEO

View the news story here >

During its October meeting, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC) board of directors discussed and voted to endorse the upcoming Johnston County School Bond Referendum. The bond is set to be on the November 6, 2018 ballot.

"This bond will provide $61 million for Johnston County Public Schools and $15 million for Johnston Community College for much needed improvements, expansions, and additions. Both entities are extremely important components of CCOC's impact agenda, particularly as they relate to current and future workforce solutions for the Clayton community. The passing of this bond will allow Johnston County to finance the cost of the listed projects over a long period of time without a tax increase. We urge Clayton residents to take the time to learn more and vote on November 6, 2018 in favor of this important bond," said President/CEO Dana Wooten.

You can learn more and read what each school will receive using the links below:

• Watch here > https://vimeo.com/292332421
  
• Learn more here > http://www.checkittwice.net/
• What JCPS will receive > http://www.checkittwice.net/index.…/what-the-bond-will-fund/
• What JCC will receive > http://www.checkittwice.net/index…/what-this-bond-will-fund/

CCOC's President/CEO Dana Bales Wooten was named as a nominee for the 2018 CWBN Athena Leadership Award this year. Congratulations to Dana and the rest of the nominees:

• Mrs. Evelyn Aranda
• Mrs. Joy Callahan
• Mrs. Cindy Brookshire
• Mrs. Shanna Capps
• Mrs. Meredith Fordham
• Mrs. Barbara King
• Dr. Marilyn Pearson
• Mrs. Michelle Ball
• Dr. Twyla Wells
• Representative Donna White
• Mrs. Dana Wooten

CCOC was honored to be a recipient of the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) 2018 education and innovation grant for an new addition to The Clayton Connection community app. The award was presented to President/CEO Dana Wooten at the CACCE annual convention on October 4, 2018.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC) Economic Development Committee's vision and action plan rollout with the Town of Clayton at our quarterly Eggs & Issues event was packed with people and important information and initiatives.

Working collaboratively with the Town of Clayton on its place branding expansion efforts (including a call for district sub-branding) and supporting the Johnston Community College goal of establishing a Clayton Campus (to foster a pipeline of talent across all sectors for the emerging workforce needs in the area) were just a few highlights from the action plan shared during the event.

Town of Clayton Economic and Community Development Director Dave DeYoung also provided the following eye-opening stats during the event:

• With 32.1% growth (2010-2017), Clayton is in top 10 fastest growing municipalities (for populations greater than 10k and less than 100k) in North Carolina.
• Currently at 21,405 (US Census, 2017), Clayton is forecasting its population to exceed 44,328 (the current exponential growth calculation) by 2040.

Learn more and read CCOC's Economic Development Committee's entire vision and action plan inside our Impact Agenda here.

The CCOC Economic Development Committee includes: Jim Perricone; Ruth Anderson; Dana Wooten, Bobby Bunn; Dave DeYoung; Kaitlin Russo; Kyle McDermott; Tara Abernathy; Edwin Jackson; Greg Kennedy; Charlie Bell; and Beth Watson.

Note: This collaborative presentation included some very exciting goals and action items that made everyone “Think Clayton.” And that included the local news.

Here is a news clip that aired the same evening (we spy a few CCOC investors and our board chair) > https://www.wral.com/business/video/17660261/

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce champions business, economic development, and education in Clayton, NC. We accomplish this mission by COLLABORATING with various organizations through forums, task forces, committees, and even one-on-one conversations; ADVOCATING within the community, various organizations, and governments; and providing INNOVATIVE solutions, community pride, business marketing opportunities, networking, and professional development training through various signature events and other initiatives.

Join us at one of our Chamber U: Orientation seminars to learn more about our valuable work in the community.

You can invest in the NEW Clayton Chamber of Commerce at www.claytonchamber.com (click on Invest/Apply).

Today, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC) received a Communication Excellence Award from the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for The Clayton Connection App.

The app concept, name, and branding were developed by CCOC staff to emphasize community connectivity. The app utilizes Guidebook, Inc.’s platform which allows multiple entities and/or special events to live inside one app. Currently, The Clayton Connection App includes guidebooks for the Clayton Rotary Christmas Parade (updated annually), the CCOC Business Directory and Events, Clayton Harvest Festival (updated annually), and the recent North Carolina Main Street Conference event hosted by Downtown Clayton, NC. Additional guidebooks are in the process of being added to the app, making it a must-have for all Clayton, NC residents. CCOC plans to incorporate The Clayton Connection App into its newly-created newcomer tours beginning late 2018.

The Communication Excellence Award was presented to President/CEO Dana Wooten during the 2018 Leadership Development Conference (April 25-27, 2018) in Hilton Head Island, SC.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce (CCOC) hosted a political forum, Platforms at the Podium: Town Hall Meeting, on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm at The Clayton Center (Auditorium), 111 E Second Street, Clayton, NC 27520. This forum was free to attend and open to the public. All Johnston County Board of Commissioners primary race candidates were invited to participate. The event was moderated and each candidate was asked the same list of questions and allowed an allotted time to answer.

About Platforms at the Podium
CCOC’s Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee supports the mission of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce through advocacy and collaboration between the Clayton community and all levels of government. Platforms at the Podium is a public political forum facilitated by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce encourages all of its members and residents to exercise their right to vote. CCOC does not endorse candidates for public office.