About the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber office is located in the northeast corner of the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center in the center of town.

The Chamber has two staff members and a volunteer board of directors.

Our programs and activities

Scholarship program. From 2000 to 2018, the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce awarded $97,600 in scholarships to local high school seniors.  The 2019 Scholarship Golf  Tournament raised $20,000 for scholarships to be allocated in May 2020  The Rainsville Scholarship Tournament, held each August at the Rainsville Golf & Country Club.

Retail promotions. The Chamber partners with member retailers throughout the year to promote local shopping. “Shop local” promotions include the  Rainsville Summer Shopping Days, and the Rainsville Holiday Open House.

Rainsville Person of the Year award. The Chamber honors an outstanding citizen each January at our annual banquet. Rodney Williams is the   2019 Rainsville Persons of the Year. The previous Persons of the Year were Jimmy Sparks (1990), Dave Downer (1991), Dorsey Walker (1992), Dr. John Anderson (1993), Wayne Gilbert (1994), Peggy Benefield (1995), Craig White (1996), David Martin (1997), Bob Gray (1998), Billy Poe (1999), Noland Ford (2000), Roy Sanderson (2001), Keary Chandler (2002), Lila Mae Tommie (2003), Carey Baker (2004), Larry Traylor (2005), Byron Shipp (2006), David Holt (2007), Ronald Bell (2008), Wendell Elliott (2009), Dorothy Bowman (2010), Bryan Thomas (2011), Carol Laney (2012), Kenneth Black (2013), and Wally Bryson (2014),  Rodger Lingerfelt (2015), D.L. Stiefel (2016),  Bill & Judy Ayers (2017),  Donny Johnston (2018), and Mike Simpson (2019-20)

Chamber-sponsored events. The Chamber sponsors a number of events throughout the year including the annual Christmas at the Crossroads each December, the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting each January, and the annual Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon each April. The Rainsville Scholarship Tournament, is held each August at the Rainsville Golf & Country Club. The Chamber also co-hosts workshops, seminars and receptions when the opportunity arises.

In addition, networking events provide the opportunity to mix and mingle with potential clients. When a member business hosts a Business After Hours, Business Breakfast or Business Brunch, etc., the Chamber helps promote the event through mailouts, newspaper articles, the online calendar and email-based communications.

Our mission / purpose

The purpose of the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce, Inc — as stated on the organization’s bylaws — is “advancing the commercial, industrial, civic, and general interests of the City of Rainsville, and its trade area.” It exists to support the forces that lead to prosperity within the business sector. The entire community benefits in numerous ways when the business sector prospers.

Carrying out the mission. The Chamber can be described as a partnership of like-minded investors (the members who invest their money, and the volunteers who invest their time) serving as an advocate for its member businesses and the community. The Chamber strives to convince local citizens and visitors to do business with its members at every opportunity.

The Chamber can serve as a catalyst for community action in which various members of the community work together for the good of the entire community.

The Chamber serves as an information clearinghouse for the community through its office, websites and publications. By providing support for events and activities, and information about the city and its amenities the Chamber helps attract tourists, new residents, and new business ventures.

The Office Staff

Sandy Goff

Executive Director

Glenda Smith

Assistant Director

The Board of Directors

Hope Etherton

President
Rainsville Funeral Home
2022-2025

Lisa Crowder

Vice President
Peoples Independent Bank
2024-2026

Tia Gaines

Board of Directors
DeKalb Famers Coop
2023-2025

Mary Lance

Board of Directors
DeKalb Schools
2023-2025

Deana Wigley

Board of Directors
White Realty
2024-2026

Debbie Teal

Board of Directors
Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center
2024-2026

Emily Bozarth

Board of Directors
Safe Solutions
2024-2026

Logan McKenzie

Board of Directors
First Southern State Bank
2024-2026

Linda Samples

Board of Directors
S & S Wholesale
2025-2026

Kim Bryan

Board of Directors
Rehab Partners
2025-2026

Caden Hamby

Board of Directors
Pearls & Plaid
2025-2027

Daniel Pace

Board of Directors
Hometown Market
2025-2027

Melodie Coker

Board of Directors
ABC Accounting
2025-2027

Penny Fairris Ogle

Board of Directors
Penny's from Heaven Spa
2025-2027

Randi Johnson

Board of Directors
Scooter's
2025-2027

Vicki Williams

Board of Directors
Vicki' Florist & Gifts
2025-2027