By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Grayson Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Nelson reported during last week’s meeting that chamber membership was currently at 230 members. Nelson also alluded to an upcoming new restaurant and new chamber members that he will release more information about soon. In the meantime, Nelson told the chamber that rumors concerning a hibachi restaurant coming to Grayson were true, and the new restaurant will be going in at the location of the old Giovanni’s in Grayson. Nelson told the chamber that the owners of the new restaurant are also the owners of the Hibachi Express food truck that is regularly set up during Memory Days.
In other news, Nelson told chamber members that the chamber was grateful to partner with Kentucky Christian University twice a year for their job fair. The next job fair is scheduled for March 25, Nelson said.
“I still have spots available,” Nelson said. “So, if you would like to take that day from 10 am until 1 pm the table is provided for you for free. The venue can also accommodate electrical needs for those wishing to participate in the job fair.”
“Come and find new employees for your business,” Nelson said. “And if you are not hiring right now, it is still a good opportunity for public relations. You can tell people a little about your business and what you do,” he added.
Students from the business school will be at the fair, Nelson told the members present, as well as students from East and West Carter High Schools.
Nelson also announced that Kentucky Christian University will be partnering with the chamber for the chamber’s annual Chamber Banquet, where the chamber looks at the year in retrospect and also passes out yearly awards. The banquet had been held for the last several years at Carter Caves State Resort Park, Nelson said, and the experience has consistently been amazing.
“We love having the banquet at Carter Caves, and the staff is always amazing,” he said.
The only problem, he said, was that the banquet had grown so much that it had “run out of space.” Nelson said that the event had grown so large that the chamber had been forced to limit the number of interested parties that might want to attend.
“So, we are happy to announce that we will be moving our Chamber Banquet to Kentucky Christian University inside their gymnasium,” he told the members in attendance.
“To do this, we have had to change the day,” Nelson said. “We have always had the banquet in December, but this year we will be moving it up to November. This year’s banquet will be on November 10, and you will be able to purchase your tickets well in advance.”
Nelson said he wanted to thank both Kentucky Christian University and KCU Director of Development Danny Stamper for all their help with the transition of venue.
The chamber also discussed plans for the upcoming Memory Days event. The 2026 Memory Days will celebrate 55 years of the popular event, and Nelson said there was a desire to “do it up right.” Nelson told chamber members that Memory Days planner Michelle Boggs has been hard at work to ensure that this year’s Memory Days will be the best one to date.
“We are expecting thousands of people this year,” Boggs told the chamber. “And we have a lot going on in those four days.”
Boggs said that there will be new things for people to enjoy as well as the return of wonderful live music, headlined by the group Sunday Best. The event will be held May 21 through 24, and the roster continues to grow, Boggs said. For updated information Boggs encourages everyone to visit the event’s Facebook page.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
