Business Network International, a business-networking organization specializing in providing referrals among members, held a kickoff event and visitors’ day Nov. 13 for its newest chapter in Richmond Hill.

Mayor Harold Fowler and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., participated in the event. Kingston spoke on the value of small business and the economic growth that is possible when small businesses thrive.

The chapter meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Southern Image Restaurant. Any business owner or person interested in learning more about BNI or building their business through word-of-mouth networking is welcome to visit.

BNI is a business referral organization that allows one person per profession to join its chapters. The 16 BNI chapters in Coastal Georgia and Hilton Head, S.C., areas have more than 400 members who passed over 12,000 referrals amongst themselves in 2011. Globally in 2011, BNI had nearly 140,000 members who generated 6.9 million referrals and $3.1 billion of documented closed business amongst members.

For more information, call 912-659-4997, email seth@liveoakfs.com or go to www.bni-scga.com.