SUMTER COUNTY- Area business leaders are invited to discuss the creation of a countywide Chamber and decide its purpose, focus and organizational structure.

“We are trying to make effort to establish a county Chamber,” James Mock, director of the Center for Community and Economic Development at the University of West Alabama, said. “We are not sure Livingston or York can support one on its own so we are trying to make it a county effort.”

Mock said there is a need for a Chamber in the area because there is currently nowhere for citizens to turn if they need to locate a business.

Mock also said UWA is willing to offer an office and contact resources to the Chamber if county businesses decide to act on the initiative.

The meetings are scheduled for the first week in October to decide if local businesses feel a need for a Chamber.

At the assemblies county business leaders will discuss the feasibility of the idea, decide the Chamber’s purpose and focus, and talk about the organizational structure and mechanics of the enterprise.

According to Mock, Ralph Stacy, the executive director of the Chamber or Commerce Association of Alabama, will also attend the meetings to give specific information and answer questions.

The first meeting will be held at the UWA Bell Conference Center in Livingston at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5 and the second will be Thursday, October 6 at the Coleman Center in York at 6:30 p.m. Businesses can attend either one or both of the meetings and can contact James Mock at (205) 652-3417.

“We want to find out if there is a need for a Chamber,” Mock said. “And what kind of structure will be used for it.”