News for Chamber

JUNIOR WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF SMITHFIELD AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO CLASS OF 2026 MEMBERS Smithfield, N.C. -- The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield has awarded scholarships to five incredible young women who are seniors at Johnston County high schools. The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield established the JWL Scholarship in 2019 to advance its mission of fostering women’s leadership by empowering ...read more

Triangle East Chamber Launches Emerging Leaders Professional Development Workshop Employers invest millions in technical training. This workshop focuses on the professional skills that often determine who advances into leadership. SMITHFIELD, NC – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with MD Fields Consulting, is offering a new professional development opportunity designed ...read more

CLAYTON, N.C. – Applications are now open for the 2027 class of LaunchJOCO, Johnston County’s premiere entrepreneurial development program. Individuals interested in starting or growing a small business may apply online at https://launchjoco.org/.  LaunchJOCO equips Johnston County entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and connections needed for long-term success. Students receive ...read more

SELMA, N.C.— Adventure Development will host a community event welcoming local emergency responders to Eastfield on Saturday, June 13, featuring a live landing by a Duke Life Flight helicopter directly in front of Old Navy. The free event begins at noon, offering shoppers and residents a rare close-up look at the critical care aircraft and ambulances and a chance to interact with regional safety ...read more

SMITHFIELD, NC — Secure your spot at Johnston County’s premier 8th-grade career expo! Featured on WRAL, JOCO WORKS WOW (November 5–6, 2026) is an immersive experience where students explore career paths through hands-on activities with local employers. Led by the JOCO WORKS Collaborative, with the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce at the helm, this initiative directly helps build the local ...read more

Triangle East Chamber Launches Business Resilience Program with Duke Energy Grant to Help Local Businesses Prepare for DisastersSmithfield, NC (April 2026) – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Johnston Community College Small Business Center, is proud to announce the launch of the Johnston County Business Resilience Program, a three-part workshop series designed to ...read more

When a business faces financial distress, the fastest path back to stability starts with a clear-eyed look at the numbers — not a reflexive cut across the board. Most turnarounds follow the same sequence: identify the critical issues, reduce the burn, renegotiate what you can, and keep your team together long enough to recover. For Johnston County's 568+ chamber member businesses, those steps ...read more

In the digital age, trust is currency, and credibility is infrastructure. Every business—whether a local service provider or a global SaaS company—must earn confidence through what it shows, how it communicates, and how it behaves online. Clients do not just evaluate your offer; they evaluate your signals.Key Takeaways For Earning Digital Trust Clear communication reduces uncertainty and ...read more

Running a small business in today’s economy means navigating both optimism and unpredictability. Financial projections help you prepare for what’s ahead — whether you’re planning to expand, apply for a loan, or just keep cash flow steady. They’re not about predicting the future perfectly; they’re about planning intelligently.TL;DR To project finances effectively: Use accurate, recent ...read more

When growth hits hard and fast, control becomes the first casualty. Whether you’re a local café that’s suddenly gone viral or a SaaS startup adding hundreds of new clients a month, scaling without structure can turn success into chaos. The key isn’t just growing faster — it’s growing in formation.    TL;DR Rapid growth strains finances, team systems, and customer experience.   Build ...read more

You’re sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it. Right outside your storefront, in the coffee shops and laundromats and food trucks humming a block away, are patterns, habits, and whispers that—if read right—can tell you exactly what your next move should be. Strategy isn’t just spreadsheets and quarterly forecasts, it’s how well you can read the room, especially when the room is your zip ...read more

Bridge over I-95 at Exit 95 will be upgraded SMITHFIELD – The U.S. 70 Business bridge over Interstate 95 at Exit 95 will be reconstructed into a taller, longer and wider structure, thanks to a new $38.3 million contract. The two-lane bridge over I-95 will be replaced with a five-lane bridge with a sidewalk. In addition, the on/off ramps will be reconfigured to meet modern standards, and ...read more

The Education Committee of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce honored seven local elementary school teachers on November 3 at its semi-annual Semester SuperStars Luncheon at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Smithfield.  These teachers were nominated by their principals and recognized as outstanding educators in the Smithfield-Selma area. The teachers were given a plaque and a bag full ...read more