Chamber Shopping Spree Contest - $1,000 In Prizes

Roane County, TN – Having received almost 3,000 entries, $1,000 in cash prizes were awarded to three lucky winners drawn during the Roane Alliance's annual Christmas Open House on December 16.
Connie Willis of Harriman won $500, while John Baker of Rockwood and Maxine Schuburt of Harriman each won $250.

 “This money will be very helpful to not only finish my Christmas shopping,” said Connie Willis, “but also help pay for a large purchase she made recently at Rocky Top for a family member.”  Her winning entry was completed at Rocky Top General Store, where she met Chamber Member Services Coordinator Lindsey Stevens to receive her money and do some more shopping.  Willis works at Food City in Harriman.
John Baker met Stevens at Walmart, where he completed his winning entry, explaining “I have two grand babies – one just one week old, and this will help so much to purchase gifts for my family.” 
“It could not have come at a better time of year,” said Baker when he called the Chamber after receiving his winnings – “I wanted to thank the Chamber for having the contest.”
 
Maxine Schubert met Stevens and Paulette Ray, Director of Chamber Operations, The Roane Alliance, at Rocky Top General Store where her entry was completed.  “I have been under the weather and had not finished my Christmas shopping,” said Maxine, “but now with this extra money and the help of my daughter, I can get it finished locally.”

The winners were randomly drawn during the open house by State Representative Kent Calfee.  This year’s contest included 25 Chamber businesses who participated and provided the $1,000 in total winnings, promotions for the contest, and a $500 donation to Operation R.E.A.C.H. - another Roane County program that shops local, providing a chance for economically deprived children to shop for their families.

Participating businesses included: Acme Block & Brick, Active Family & Sports Chiropractic, AGA Insurance, Browder's Ace Hardware, Bunch Marine, Citizens First Bank, Citizens National Bank, Earl Duff Subaru, First Bank of Tennessee – Harriman, First Bank of Tennessee,- Rockwood, Foust Family Fitness, Gloria Jeans Fine Southern Provisions, Griffin Insurance, Harriman Care & Rehabilitation Center, Jerry Duncan Ford, Live & Let Live Drug Store, Pattersons Home Appliances, Renaissance Terrace, Rocky Top General Store, Sears Retail Store, Shoney’s of Harriman, Simply Sweet Bakery, United Community Bank, Wal-Mart Super Center, and Y-12 Federal Credit Union.

“Shop Small” programs are being advertised all across the country, increasing in recent years to promote the importance of supporting local small businesses.   By shopping local, every household in the county benefits.  For every $100 spent in locally-owned independent stores, according to one nationally-known ‘Shop Local’ advocacy group, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If that same $100 is spent online, nothing comes to your home community.

The Roane County Chamber has been operating a “Shop Roane First: It Benefits us All” program for years as a way to remind everyone to use the services of Chamber members first, as those are the businesses who are reinvesting in their community through their Chamber dues.  The Shopping Spree Contest is just one of the events held to promote shopping local.  To learn more about the program visit www.RoaneChamber.com/ShopRoane or contact the Roane County Chamber at 865-376-5572.  

When shopping local the Chamber encourages everyone to check in on social media using #ShopRoaneFirst to support our local businesses.

The Chamber is a partner in The Roane Alliance – Roane County’s economic development organization. The partners who operate under the Alliance umbrella along with the Chamber also include the Industrial Development Board and Visitors Bureau.  To learn more about how the Roane Alliance promotes economic development and seeks increased opportunities for all Roane County citizens, please visit www.roanealliance.org.