Chamber, CRI create community, business network T e nonprofi t community in Culpeper


comprises a tight web intended to catch all the organizations and businesses that make the county what it is. Two of those, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI), have been collaborating on another level since 2016 to highlight the small business community in Culpeper. Downtown shops are default


CRI members due to the nonprofi t’s geographical services footprint – the Culpeper downtown historic commercial district. “We do the holiday décor, the light pole


banners, the fl ower baskets, the corn stocks that you see going up,” said CRI Executive Director Jessica Jenkins. “We create that central hub of activity and a place where people want to come.” “As soon as they drive into the


downtown district, they know they're in a special place. It makes people feel safe… and hopefully they stop, shop and dine downtown.”


CRI is a CCC and partner. T ose


downtown shops can opt to be chamber members too and get in on the connection that the chamber off ers. “In our membership is a little more


than 260 small businesses (with) anywhere from zero to 10 employees,” said Chamber President Jeff Say. T e chamber helps with marketing, networking, promoting, events and


UNSPLASH


more. T ey are the eyes and ears of local businesses and get the word out accordingly. “Making those connections and building


relationships is what I feel the chamber is focused on,” Say said. “CRI and the Chamber work very


closely in sharing volunteers (and) information. We attend each other's board meetings,” Say said. “It’s a (cyclical) type of relationship. We're trying to get the support


32 | CULPEPER CHAMBER COMMUNITY GUIDE


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