Let me start by saying that 2019 was a great year for the Richmond Chamber but I am extremely excited about 2020. We have added many new members in 2019 and I am excited to say I believe we will see another year of growth. In part I think it will be because of our new partnership with the Kentucky Chamber and our Chamber Advantage program that we have just rolled out, an Anthem product. This is a new health insurance program and it is worth looking at even if you already have health insurance. If you have 2-49 employees, you are eligible. Talk with your current agent or if you need a list of local member agents that are selling this product let us know. As always, our focus is how to better serve our members and we will continue to do that in 2020. We have an orientation every 6 weeks in which we go over all the things that we as a chamber offer our members and ways in which we can help you get more involved. If you are a new member, new in your position or simply want to know more about what we do we would love for you to join us for one of these breakfast or lunch meetings throughout the year. I realize I speak about the drug problem often but that is because it is much bigger than anyone wants to admit and being ignorant does not change the problem. We have seen in 2019 the result of the drug problem which is attributed to the overcrowded jail that we are experiencing. Because of the drug epidemic we will be looking very strongly at workforce and how to provide transformational employment for many of the folks who are coming out of recovery and looking for a job. I have already attended some great meetings and met some amazing people who have been willing to take the risk and it is paying off for them. In this same vein we are looking at ways to be involved on a preventative level which will take us into the schools to help kids get to grade level in reading. I hope many of our chamber members will get on board with us. The only way to see change is to be part of the solution.
