The Martinsville - Henry County Chamber of Commerce Hires New PresidentMarch 17, 2023 M-HC Chamber of Commerce hires Brenell Thomas as President. Martinsville, Virginia. The Martinsville – Henry County Chamber of Commerce, a membership based association whose mission is to promote and protect the interests of the business community, welcomes Brenell Thomas as the President. Thomas will also serve as the Executive Director of the Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG). Thomas is the former Coordinator of Training and Professional Development at Patrick & Henry Community College and brings 21 years of valuable experience in workforce development, training, and professional development that will contribute to the success in her new role as President. “The search committee was very impressed with Brenell’s commitment to the Martinsville Henry County community over the years, her strong connections to many of our local businesses and her leadership training expertise. We believe she can work well with our staff, our membership, and the community at large, and she’ll be a great asset in this role,” said Anne Smith, chamber board chair. While at P&HCC, Thomas was awarded the 2017 Virginia Community College System’s Chancellor’s Award, a 2011 Community Education Recognition Award, 2010 VCCA Staff Showcase Award, and she has completed the Leadership M-HC program of the Chamber of Commerce. She has also served on and held offices with many boards in the M-HC community including the Chamber and its Education Foundation, ensuring a better place for all to live. The M-HC Chamber of Commerce and C-PEG began the search for a new president and executive director following former President Lisa Watkins’ resignation. Thomas will start on April 3rd. “I am grateful for the confidence the Board has placed in my ability to lead C-PEG and the Chamber, an organization with a strong legacy of serving Martinsville and Henry County for almost 65 years,” said Brenell Thomas. “I hope to transfer my passion for workforce development into a positive energy that helps our community!” Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts from University of Virginia and is currently working on her master’s degree from Radford University. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. |
12 CHEAPEST SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICAAffordable small towns might not be for everyone, but their charms put them among the best places to live for plenty of folks.Small-town living has plenty of perks: light traffic, a strong sense of community and a slower pace of life. Perhaps best of all, there's the cost of living, which typically is cheaper in small towns than in expensive big cities. To get a better sense of what inexpensive small-town living really has to offer, we compiled a list of the 12 cheapest small towns in America, with small towns defined as places with populations of 10,000 to 50,000 people. We based our rankings on the Council for Community and Economic Research's (C2ER) calculations of living expenses in 267 urban areas. C2ER's expansive study tracks thousands of prices under the categories of housing, utilities, healthcare, groceries, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and services (such as an appointment with a physician or a ticket to the cinema). It goes without saying that you should weigh the pros and cons before you pack up and relocate to one of the 12 cheapest small towns in America. While a low cost of living is attractive, it can be offset by issues such as scarce jobs, small paychecks or a lack of things to do in the area. Plan an extended visit to ensure the small town fits your lifestyle. And if you prefer larger locales, consider our list of the cheapest U.S. cities to live in. C2ER's Cost of Living Index data is based on average prices of goods and services collected for the first three quarters of 2021, with index values based on the new weights for 2022. Population figures, median household incomes, median home values, poverty rates and other demographic data are from the U.S. Census Bureau. Unemployment rates, courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are as of April 27 for the month of March 2022, and are neither smoothed nor seasonally adjusted. Click the link below to see the 12 cheapest small towns in America. |
