Local economy experts are sharing insights into various markets in Rowan County. Officials said 2025 has presented challenges with childcare, housing, and changing prices, impacting both businesses and workers in the region.
Jason Slone is President and CEO of the Morehead Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. He said one group of businesses is of particular concern.
“We’re also still struggling with first-year new businesses, trying to hold on to them. For whatever reason, are struggling in that first year no matter how much we try to route services to them, provide them support, marketing. This past year we lost, in the fiscal year, 29 members. 15 of those were new businesses,” said Slone.
The Chamber of Commerce has been holding conferences for workers and leadership, which bring a large number of people and commerce to the region. Slone said the organization offers many support systems.
“A lot of those that we’re looking at are the education pieces, how to market your business, the E-commerce of business, financial management, the human resource side of things, the technology and innovation that’s all available today, and how are you taking advantage it,” said Slone. “These are all some of the programming we’re going to be bringing in the fall and carrying it into the spring to be able to help small businesses gain access to it local.”
Slone adds having a support framework in place locally drives community involvement and wellbeing. The Chamber of Commerce Foundation, formed in 2023, is continuing to make these tools available so businesses can remain in the area for years to come.