Seminars and Updates
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce works with several government agencies and non-profit organizations to provide educational and information gathering opportunities for its members. Most seminars are free but will require registration. The topics are chosen in response to a request by a member or from a discussion at the monthly Business Development Committee meetings. Our partner agencies are the Brunswick Community College Small Business Center(BCCSBC), Small Business Technology Development Center at UNCW(SBTDC), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE Cape Fear Region, North Carolina Department of Labor and the NC Division of Workforce Solutions (formerly NC Employment Security Commission).
Out of the Box Learning
Out of the Box Learning is a quarterly business development program that features a discussion about a topic related to business, led by a local businessperson who is familiar with the material.
Out of the Box Learning is free and open to members and non-members, however, the chamber encourages non-members to attend two chamber functions before requiring membership. For more information call (910) 457-6964.
ServSafe Food Safety Course
The North Carolina Food Code requires that restaurant managers and employees receive training and show knowledge of food safety. This training is now an important part of the restaurant’s health inspection score. The NC Cooperative Extension in Brunswick County offers training and testing that meets this requirement with the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe program.
2024 training session is scheduled for January 22, January 29 and February 5th. Held at the Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, 4433 Long Beach Road in Southport, NC. This “extended” training is designed for students new to restaurant food safety or have not previously taken the ServSafe Certification test. Instruction will focus on techniques of handling, preparing, serving and storing foods safely. The classes will meets once a week for three weeks and include 10 hours of instruction, the course book and the national test. The cost is $125.
These classes will be taught by staff members from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and Environmental Health of Brunswick County. While this course will be taught in English, the textbook and exam are available in Spanish and Chinese languages. Requests for tests in a language other than English must be made one week prior to the class.
The registration fee must be received prior to the beginning of class. Books may be picked up in person at the Cooperative Extension office, Building N at the Government Center in Bolivia. Class size is limited and will be on a first-come first-serve basis. Spaces will not be held without payment of the registration fee. For more information or to register call 910-253-2610.
North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.
NC DOT Update
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce is hosted NC Department of Transportation Update for our business community on Monday, November 8th on Webex. Chad Kimes, PE, Division Engineer will discuss details, timing and traffic pattern plans for the Highway 211 widening project. If time allows we will also learn about county and regional projects benefiting our community. See the full presentation Here. [email protected]
As seminars and other informational type events are scheduled they will be posted here.
Offshore Wind Forum -The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy hosted part 1 of a 2 part series concerning offshore wind energy and the potential site located 17-18 miles off Bald Head Island - called Wilmington East. Presenters in Part 1 focused on the basics of wind energy, timelines, public participation opportunities, environmental and real world experiences. Moderator: Susan Munroe, Deputy Director, Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy; Jaime Simmons, Program Manager, Southeastern Wind Coalition; Jennifer Mundt, Assistant Secretary of Clean Energy Economic Development, NC Department of Commerce; Amber Hewett, Program Director, Offshore Wind at the National Wildlife Federation and Lars Trodson, Executive Director of the Block Island Chamber of Commerce. Not shown during the session but placed in the chat was a link to a video from Block Island entitled Anglers for Offshore Wind Power. Part 2 will be held on March 16th at 9am on Zoom. It will focus on the economic development and job creation of wind energy for our area. Listen to the roughly 1:15 minute video from today's meeting to learn about wind energy and the Wilmington East project. Watch on Facebook https://fb.watch/bvyxFWBiVG/ or on YouTube https://youtu.be/tmDpG2KrzGY