Visitors and locals alike can now find in one location information about local businesses and tourism hotspots of southern Bryan County.
The Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce and Richmond Hill Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) recently announced the move of the CVB into the chamber’s office, located in the Crossroads Center on Highway 17.
In addition to combining the two entities into one office, renovations of the space has also recently been completed.
“We always thought it would be a great synergy for the CVB and the chamber to co-locate, and we were able to create this space for (the CVB) and still have plenty of space for reception, information about our local businesses and tourist information,” Brianne Yontz, chamber executive director, said.
Though the chamber was able to purchase the unit in Crossroads Center in 2006 with funds from the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival, Yontz said over the past decade, the chamber has grown and the needs of its members have changed.
The idea behind the remodeling started in 2012, Yontz said.
“We realized that the space wasn’t configured as user-friendly,” she said. “We have a lot of space, like 2,500 square feet, and we came up with we definitely need to look at … putting some lipstick on it, or really considering renovating it.”
Yontz said the chamber worked with local construction company Kevin A. Foley Construction to remodel the office space. She said past chamber chairman John Reynolds, Andy Foley, building co-owner Gene Brogdon and several others were very instrumental in aiding with the renovations.
Chris Sheppard, executive director of the CVB, said she is thrilled the two organizations can share the same office because it helps bring her organization more in line with the economic development of the community.
“In the end, it will be good for the community because they’ll have a central place to go for information, and it’ll be good for visitors for the same reason,” she said. “And it’ll be good for the CVB because we’ll be much more involved in the economic development discussion.”
To celebrate the new location of the CVB and the completion of the renovations, an open house is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday with a brief presentation at 10 a.m.
For more information, visit www.rhbcchamber.org or call 756-3444.

Read more in the April 13 edition of the News.