The Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce is holding an 80th anniversary celebration next week, and would like the public to join them in the festivities.
The event will take place April 15th at 6 p.m. at the Hide-A-Way Lake Lodge. A three-course dinner will be served and attendees will hear from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Joy Foy with the Mississippi Development Authority.
Tickets are currently on sale at the chamber office for $35 each until Thursday, April 14, said chamber Executive Director Nuria Arias.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the newly established Excel By Five program in the Picayune School District, Arias said.
This will be a once in a lifetime event, since the chamber will only be 80 years old once, she said.
Only 200 tickets are available for this event.
The keynote speakers will provide some insight into the various programs and goals the chamber has set. Foy, who is on the chamber’s Ambassador Program, will speak about capitalizing on the resources the Picayune area has, which Nuria said is the goal of the program.
“We want to take a look at what possibilities are available here,” Nuria said.
By partnering with the MDA, Arias said the chamber will be able to effectively open up those opportunities.
Other special guests at the event will include Senator Angela Hill and Senator Mike Seymour. Arias said she is also working with the offices of other elected officials, such as Representative Mark Formby and Senator Roger Wicker, to see if they will be able to attend.
At the event, which is slated to last about two hours, the chamber will recognize their longest standing member, McDonald Funeral home. Chamber Board Vice President Kenny McDonald said the business has been operating in Picayune for 100 years.
Arias said attendees will also get the first look at the Chamber’s new website.