Since it’s inception, in 1937, the Giles County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) has existed to support and serve its membership - the business and professional people of Giles County.

Working with the towns, county and state governments and the other New River Valley chambers, the Giles Chamber has promoted its members through articles, brochures, local publications and events and makes available to them forums, informational luncheons, social mixers, a countywide business appreciation day and other activities that keep them and the community aware of events happening locally, across the New River Valley and beyond.

Everything Giles - All the Time. Such is the motto of the new board of directors for the GCCC. As the nation struggles to recover from the largest and worse economic recession since the great depression, smaller rural economies like Giles County need extra effort to sustain themselves.

The GCCC is dedicated to meeting this challenge.

Now more than ever, Giles County needs a strong, active Chamber of Commerce doing everything possible to ensure the success of local businesses. Now more than ever, local businesses need to support their Chamber of Commerce with memberships and participation. And now more than ever, Giles citizens need to make a special effort to spend locally on goods, services, leisure and recreation. These combined efforts will ensure a healthy local economy even through difficult times.

With a volunteer staff, the GCCC directors have maintained an operational Chamber Office on a five-day a week basis. Operating at various locations, presently at 101 South Main Street, Pearisburg, GCCC Executive Directors like Bud Mutter, Jan Thomas, Barbara Stafford, and currently Cathy Clark, along with the volunteers, have always exhibited an outstanding degree of knowledge and professionalism in all of their relationships with members, visitors, government representatives and other chambers. The staff members go to great extents to provide answers and information to all requests, sometimes having to go to other agencies and governments.

The GCCC Office is open to the public and maintains kiosks with local, state and national brochures on attractions, services and activities plus maps of every state, local counties and towns. Additionally, the Chamber has for sale items that pertain to Giles County such as its Chamber Ornaments, Olde Towne items, Bicentennial Books, Cat’s Meow figures of County Historic Places and sites. There are a number of free publications and newspapers available.

A 14 member Board of Directors meets monthly to co-ordinate the business of the Chamber. The officers of the board are elected on a staggered basis at a business meeting held each year at the spring banquet. The current GCCC president, Frank Tanner, is a staff member at Appalachian Power. The board usually meets on the fourth Friday of each month.

The Chamber of Commerce is a valuable part of the County structure and provides invaluable services to the county and municipal governments and, along with the County’s Tourism Board, works tirelessly to encourage and promote tourism in Giles County. In 2009, the Chamber with help from the county, conducted day-long tours of the county’s three districts, with knowledgeable people along to point out places that even some of those assisting were not aware of. There were members of the State Tourism Board along on each tour.

Those of us that have knowledge of, and those who have been involved with the chamber over the years, know full well that the Giles County Chamber of Commerce has made significant contributions to improve the overall daily life of Giles County citizens. The GCCC is, and must continue to be, an integral part of this community.

The mission of the GCCC is: to promote the overall development of Giles County; to help develop a positive environment for the operation and growth of business, industry, and tourism; and to contribute to the development of a better quality of life for our citizens, including employment opportunities, leisure time activities, and community events.

If you’re not already a member, please consider joining the Giles County Chamber of Commerce. Let the chamber know how they can help you.