By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Nelson announced at the July 2025 meeting of the Chamber that the organization had grown to 216 members. Nelson said the chamber has most recently added Sargent’s Wholesale Tires to their membership, after that business opened a new location in Grayson.
“They have been in the Ashland and Westwood area for over 44 years,” Nelson told the chamber.
“I also wanted to give you some interesting news that came to me this morning,” Nelson added. “Love’s Truck Stop has new EV chargers. They will be officially open on July 17, and they have asked the chamber to come and have a ribbon cutting. And that’s some exciting news for our area.” Nelson encouraged all chamber members, as well as the community at large, to come to the ribbon cutting and show their support.
Chamber President Jill York introduced the speaker for the July chamber meeting, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Rachel Bowling, and told chamber members that if they planned on starting a business, or improving an existing business, the SBDC at Morehead was the best place to start.
“We are a resource partner for the Small Business Administration,” Bowling told the chamber. “We are not the SBA, but we work with them. We are able to provide no cost, confidential business consulting.”
“If you have an idea, are interested in a start-up, or are wanting to expand, or even looking at a cessation plan to get out of business, we can help with that,” Bowling explained. “We look into things like feasibility, business plans, and are you looking to seek capital. And are you wanting to register your business with the Secretary of State?”
“We often see clients who are experts in their trade, but they may not know the business background of that trade,” Bowling told the chamber. “So, we are able to step in and help them with understanding the background of that business.”
Bowling said the new business clients SBDC works with might have been in business for thirty years, but also could be starting out fresh in the business world.
“It really is a case-by-case business,” Bowling said. “It’s not ‘cookie cutter.’”
SBDC looks into all aspects of the potential or established business and helps them determine their needs and goals as the individuals they are, she added.
“Let’s say you’re looking to expand your business,” Bowling said. “Maybe add employees or a second location. Or even purchase a franchise.”
Those are the types of needs SBDC can help to fill, Bowling told the chamber.
“We don’t offer legal advice or help with taxes, but we can help with almost anything else.”
“The biggest hurdle that we find in Eastern Kentucky for a small business startup is that initial access to capital,” Bowling explained. “A lot of people come into the center looking for grant funds, but those are not readily available. Typically, grants are very specific and hard to access, so we recommend you check with your local lending institutions. But we do know that Amazon, Verizon, and other companies have some grants up to $2,000 that are available.”
Bowling said that SBDC in Morehead is committed to help new and established business to start and grow. The SBDC is a good source of information and practical advice when it comes to business, and they are waiting to help communities grow by helping the businesses that support those communities and their growth.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
