There’s a sharp new sign hanging outside of the old Niven-Price Building in historic Waxhaw. It announces the location of the new Union County Chamber of Commerce Information Center.

The Information Center opened July 20 and is located at 216 W North Main Street, inside the Waxhaw Entrepreneurs (WE) office space. The opening was celebrated with an evening social, that brought together Chamber members, members of the Waxhaw community, and members of the WE.

The room is furnished with plush office chairs and a small table that is perfect for working on a laptop or having an intimate business meeting. Glossy black shelving covers most of the back wall. Brochures, business cards, and a variety of informational handouts are neatly presented. Another wall displays logos depicting the many programs offered by the Chamber.

The Information Center will be open during the same hours as WE. President Pat Kahle believes it’s a good partnership.

“We will go by at least once a week to add things and make sure it looks fresh,” Kahle said.

The room can also be used as a convenient meeting place for Chamber staff to meet with members and prospective members. In addition, the Information Center is a key component of the Chamber’s strategy to serve the entire county.

“The Chamber is laser focused on its efforts to be an integral partner in all the communities of Union County and believes Information Centers will be an important strategy in meeting that goal,” Kahle said.

As stated on their website, the WE mission is, “To nurture and advance the development of entrepreneurs during their start-up period, WE will work with small businesses in all stages of development to provide counseling and guidance.”

Earlier this year, Karen Johnson, team leader for the WE, had the idea to invite the Chamber to come share their space.

“We had become an Incubator that is a connector,” Johnson said. “And when Created In The Carolinas (an Incubator member) joined the Union County Chamber of Commerce, we realized that they do the same kind of thing that we do, so we asked them to come in and be a presence on this side of the county. It makes them more accessible to people.”

Now instead of having to travel to Monroe to connect with the Chamber, Waxhaw area residents will have more convenient access to information.

The Chamber occupied a space in Waxhaw for many years. Unfortunately, almost a year ago they had to vacate the location. But Kahle believed it was still important to have a local presence in a fast growing community such as Waxhaw. That’s why she was happy to accept the opportunity to have a visible storefront space where community members could come to find maps, member information, and a schedule of Chamber programs.

“If people don’t know about the work we’re doing, they can get it there,” she said. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with Karen and the WE team.”

And the WE is happy to have Chamber resources so close by.

“I am so excited and honored to have the Union County Chamber as a connector in the incubator. Working with Pat Kahle and her husband, Dick, Nancy Duncan and the staff from the Chamber has been a pleasure!” said Johnson.

Pat’s husband, Dick, provided the volunteer labor to upfit the office space that now houses the Chamber’s Information Center.

Anyone is welcome to explore the space and learn more about both the Union County Chamber of Commerce and local members. Regular hours are 11:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, except for Mondays.