CLAY COUNTY – The new partnership will increase professional networking opportunities for Impact Clay’s helping organizations and create a stronger working bond between the business community, the County’s not-for-profit organizations and faith-based organizations.

“Helping organizations that are members of Impact Clay are now automatically Clay County Chamber members,” said Clay County Chamber of Commerce President Jon Cantrell. “This will help their leaders connect through networking while taking advantage of all the benefits Chamber members have that help their business grow and succeed.”

“We are proud to begin this innovative partnership with our Clay Chamber.  Many of our helping organizations struggle to keep up with the work in front of them and often lack the resources to join a professional group.  This partnership provides an open door for these organizations to begin a long-term relationship with the business community and gain the tools needed to prosper for many years to come,” said Impact Clay CEO Connie Thomas.

Impact Clay’s mission is to help Clay County meet the crucial social service needs of families, individuals and children through collaborative projects.

Hope is Restored, an Impact Clay member organization, is on a mission to end modern-day slavery.  Founder and CEO Erica Smith said her organization will benefit from the new partnership, “This gives us the opportunity to put a need out to the business community that they can help us meet; we’re all in a fight to make Clay County a better place.”

Hope Restored operates an office inside Impact Clay’s Professional Center at 151 College Dr. The organization recently renewed its lease and will celebrate by hosting the Clay Chamber Ambassadors for a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. on June 16.

Chamber staff will work with Impact Clay leadership to connect its members with the Chamber’s many programs.