The North Bryan Chamber of Commerce hosted a room full of members and guests at its annual dinner meeting at Black Creek Golf Club on March 16.

The state of the Chamber is good, said President Mary Warnell.

"Last year we celebrated the rejuvenation of the Chamber," she said. "We are in good standing with the state and are currently at a total of 61 renewals and new members. Our goal is to have 85 members by year's end."

Warnell said the Chamber has taken many opportunities to promote the area as a great place to live, work and play by providing such social events as networking at noon and business after hours, where chamber members and guests have the chance to mingle and make connections.

Guest speaker Ted Akins, vice chair of the Bryan County Development Authority, showed guests the current progress in Interstate Centre at the I-16 and Hwy. 280 interchange with aerial photos of the facilities constructed there since it opened in 2006.

Chamber members got a look at structures belonging to Oneida, Oracal, Daniel Defense, Dicon Technologies, DKW Logistics, LaFarge Concrete and the TPA warehouse currently under construction in Phase II. Akins said it housed 14 acres of area under the roof.

"We think it's the largest building on I-16," he said. "We're going to keep saying it until they prove us wrong."

Akins cited employees past and present as the driving force behind the success of the Interstate Centre.

"These folks put in a lot of time and effort, and I'm proud to be associated with them," he said.

Akins said multiple prospective tenants have showed interest in the TPA warehouse, Oracal is adding on, and Daniel Defense is already planning to expand.

"Interstate Centre has brought 500 jobs to the area since 2006," he said.

He also said that multiple, large-acre tracts are cleared and ready for businesses looking for somewhere to build.

The Chamber will be touring Interstate Centre in July, according to Warnell.