Carbon Chamber and Economic Development has a lot of interesting things in the works.

And representatives want businesses and residents to know there are programs that aim to help them out.On Thursday, Marlyn Kissner, executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development, and Kathy Henderson, director of economic development at CCEDC, visited the county commissioners' meeting to discuss what was completed in 2014, and what is being planned for this year.Kissner highlighted a number of areas, including the partnerships that make the organization stronger; the new website, which promotes events, businesses, places to stay and provides a place for new businesses who can't afford a website with a business page; a video promoting Carbon County; new committees, such as the young professional committee that aims to focus on people age 21 to 40 who are interested in keeping business in Carbon County; and more.She added that throughout the year, the chamber has touched every corner of the county through mixers, ribbon cuttings, grand openings and classes, which all provide networking opportunities and ways to build a stronger business relationship with the community.The chamber also participated in a mug walk and Small Business Saturday as ways to promote shopping locally owned businesses over big box stores.Coming in 2015, Kissner highlighted that the chamber will be working at building a binder of places to see and things to do within the county, as well as host the first Restaurant Week in the end of April.Henderson piggybacked off Kissner, highlighting a number of the economic development sides of the organization.Throughout 2014, CCEDC has reactivated two loan programs for small businesses to help provide funding for startups or just to cover costs. To date, these low-interest loans have helped a business start in Lansford; and a 40-year-old business in Weatherly.Henderson also noted that the building in Weatherly that CCEDC purchased years ago is back in use. Last year, it was sold to the Weatherly Library, who moved into the newly renovated structure this past Saturday.Looking ahead, CCEDC is looking to host a teacher in the workplace summer camp to help provide business skills in the area of manufacturing.Henderson said there are many manufacturers offering good paying jobs, but not a lot of skilled employees to fill these positions. Through the program, CCEDC hopes to change that.Two boards are also being set up, the manufacturers advisory board and the legislative advisory committee, to help pinpoint the needs of the county and network through partnerships with the Lehigh Valley."The future of Carbon County is bright, but we can't sit around," Henderson said. "We need to move on it now."The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation has been in existence since 2013, when the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation, Carbon County Economic Development Office, Carbon County Industrial Development Authority and Carbon County Chamber of Commerce merged to become CCEDC.Since then, the office at 137 South St. in Lehighton has worked with small businesses and residents to help keep jobs in the county, as well as promote tourism.For more information on CCEDC, the programs offered, on what is going on in the county or for business resources, visit

http://www.carboncountychamber.org or call the office at 610-379-5000.