The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual spring Bizapalooza Tuesday to foster local business connections and drive regional economic growth.
Director of Membership Karlyn Reel said the two-and-a-half-hour event is open to businesses of all sizes to find new resources. Reel said the event serves as a tabletop expo designed for networking.
“The economic impact that can be felt throughout the whole community with this is endless,” Reel said. “And I think that’s important for many of our businesses to remember is that when you need a certain service, you know, look for local businesses, look for folks who are local to Putnam County, local to the Upper Cumberland, and find ways to support each other and to be customers for one another.”
Reel said the Chamber has heard many stories over the years about the expo serving as a vital starting point for professional relationships.
“Everyone who is there, whether hosting a booth or attending, is coming in with the same mindset, right?” Reel said. “We know this is a business-to-business networking opportunity, so everyone comes in ready to mix and mingle, they come ready with their business cards.”
Reel said the event is free for all attendees thanks to a longtime partnership with a presenting sponsor. Reel said the expo is a high-energy “sprint” where more than 320 people are expected to walk through the doors.
“But that is that is the focus of our Chamber as a whole is creating space and opportunity for Putnam County businesses to grow and connect,” Reel said. “And of course, we welcome businesses who are expanding here or folks moving to this area who are starting new businesses here, and we are just as here to support those businesses as the as the longtime, kind of pillars in our community.”
Reel said the Chamber is still accepting registrations for businesses interested in reserving a table. Reel said interested parties can find more information on the organization’s website or by calling the Chamber office.
“So whether you are a young professional or a seasoned professional here in Cookeville-Putnam County, the big thing to remember is just keeping that open mind, keeping that, you know, positive attitude coming into this event or really any networking event,” Reel said. “Putting yourself out there, kind of stretching your boundaries, coming prepared with those business cards, and really again, just trying to utilize whatever time it is that you’ve set aside, you know, whether you’re hosting a booth and you’re there for the full two hours or if you’re just coming for 30 minutes, really trying to utilize that time to make the most connections.”