As a resident of Carbon County, I am very proud to serve my community and support our local businesses. When I need a special gift for someone, I find my way to a local shop where I can purchase a unique item. Whether I grab a bite to eat for lunch or plan a night out, I make it a point to frequent one of the many great restaurants in the county.

My husband and I volunteer for local nonprofit organizations and enjoy giving back to our community while meeting new people and sharing fun experiences.

We attend local fundraisers supporting our nonprofits in the county and look for events and activities in our area and invite friends and family to join in. We find our fun in Carbon County and love our community.

As a Chamber of Commerce, our mission is “To improve the economic climate and quality of life in Carbon County by providing services, information and advocacy for our members and the community.”

As a “Chamber of Communities,” we advocate for our towns, businesses and people serving as a strong connector; bringing community and business together through local festivals and events.

Local festivals and events such as Blue Mountain Resort’s Oktoberfest, Lehighton’s Rocktoberfest, Weatherly’s Cabbage Fest and First Fridays in Jim Thorpe and Lansford are great examples of local family fun, bringing attention to our boroughs and small towns.

Join in on the fun:

• Attending local events and volunteering allows for networking opportunities to help grow your business.

• Take the time to research the history, landmarks, attractions, shops and restaurants in the area — you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see all that Carbon County has to offer.

• Shopping local will strengthen our businesses and in turn, create job opportunities.

• As an ambassador for your community, sharing your experiences will help attract others to our area and can create a domino effect as more and more people frequent our businesses.

• Get outside! Take a walk on the D&L trail, take a train ride, kayak, bike or hike — all available right outside of your door. Take a few pictures while enjoying the local outdoors and share with others.

Thanks to our strong business community, our ambassadors serve as the goodwill arm of the CCEDC, playing an essential role in member communication, appreciation, retention, and level of engagement. Ambassadors are highly visible, prestigious volunteers who serve as the CCEDC’s primary liaison to chamber members. Ambassadors C.A.R.E.

I’ve seen great outcomes thanks to the work of our ambassador team as they take care of our members: business growth, sense of community, professional development, training opportunities and mentorship. Not only do our members benefit from this team, ambassadors do as well.

Have a sense of pride about where you live and challenge yourself to get involved in a local community group or make it a point to shop and dine local … we need you! Not sure where to get started? Let us help you.

I look forward to seeing you at our next event … ask me how you can get involved to support your community and our local businesses. You’ll enjoy the journey.

For more ways to Find Your Fun in our beautiful Carbon County communities, visit www.carboncountychamber.org.

Marlyn Kissner is executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation.