The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Power in Partnership Breakfast on May 9 will recognize small business owners and entrepreneurs as part of its annual Small Business Month Celebration. Swift & Staley is the presenting sponsor. The breakfast is one week later due to the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention Center. Pre-registration is required by Monday, May 6 at noon at paducahchamber.org or by calling 270-443-1746. Power Card holders do not have to pre-register.  The cost is $25.

The program will feature a panel of local small business owners. Panelists include Mike Troutt of Window World, the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year; Ines Rivas-Hutchins of INTEC Group, SBA Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year; Jessica Housman of Housman Partners, Paducah Chamber Vice Chair of Small Business; and Tamara Jackson of Tamed by Tam, a Paducah Chamber Small Business Cohort graduate.

They will discuss how they established their businesses, challenges, and rewards. 2024 Paducah Chamber Board Chair Katie Englert, owner of Compass Counseling and Chicken Salad Chick, will be the moderator.

“There is nothing small about the impact small businesses have on our local economy,” said Sandra Wilson, Chamber President/CEO. “Small businesses make up the majority of the Chamber’s membership and we know how important it is to provide a variety of services and benefits to them, emphasize buy local and help promote their products and services.”

Businesses are invited to register for a display booth at the May Breakfast for $100. Breakfast attendees will be encouraged to visit booths before and after the breakfast, and then from 9 to 9:30 a.m. participating businesses will be able to take part in a Business to Business networking session – to meet each other, share business cards, and see how they can do business together. Interested businesses can register online at paducahchamber.org or email info@paducahchamber.org.

Additionally, Chamber members with 15 or fewer employees are asked to submit a short 75-word bio about their business. To submit a business bio, visit paducahchamber.org, click on the May 2024 PIP Breakfast event and then the bio submission form. The deadline is Monday, May 6.

Bios will be compiled and featured at the May breakfast, and on the Chamber’s website and social media. From the bio submissions, the name of one small business will be drawn to receive one month’s use of a digital billboard located on Lone Oak Road and sponsored by Hibbs Insurance. Additionally, three names will be drawn to be highlighted during the breakfast.