by Ryan Egly
For lack of a better word, April was busy. Businesses hosted a record-breaking number of ribbon cuttings, we graduated this year’s Leadership Lawrence cohort, and we saw small but significant wins in both economic development and tourism. It was the kind of month that shows what steady work can produce across a community.
Welcoming our newest Chamber members
We were proud to welcome several new members to the Chamber in April, representing a strong mix of retail, restaurants, home services, healthcare, and professional services:
- Lendmark Financial Services, LLC
- Amish Country Depot
- The Rolling Bookshelf
- Keeton Services Group
- AirMedCare
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Canine Solutions
Every member strengthens our local business network. These businesses are investing in Lawrence County, supporting the local business community, and helping strengthen the network that keeps our economy moving forward. As we head into the summer months, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to support them and shop local whenever you can.
Celebrating business growth and milestones
April 2026 will likely go down as one of the busiest months for ribbon cuttings and business celebrations in Lawrence County history, starting with our monthly Chamber Coffee hosted by Resplendent Boutique and continuing with a long list of ribbon cutting celebrations across the county:
- Innate Wellness Chiropractic
- Lawrence County Veterans Service Office
- Maury Regional Lawrence Health Center
- Lawrence County Election Commission
- Southern TN Urology
- Hemp Depot
- Refine Aesthetics, new location
- Center Stage Dance Academy
- Modern Home Interiors
We also celebrated Green’s Home Center’s 20-year anniversary and joined Citizens Bank of Lawrence County for a community open house.
What I appreciate about months like this is that the wins weren’t concentrated in one sector. We saw activity in healthcare, retail, government services, wellness, beauty, and small business. That kind of diversification is important because healthy communities cannot depend on one industry alone.
Another milestone from April was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Their team continues to do difficult but important work that directly impacts the health and future of our community.
State of the County and National Civics Bee
We hosted our annual State of the County Luncheon at the Loretto Civic Center, presented by RE/MAX PROS. This event always serves as a good opportunity to bring local leaders, businesses, and residents together to provide an update about where we are, where we are improving, and where we still have work to do.
We also hosted the National Civics Bee® Regional Competition, presented by Citizens Bank of Lawrence County. Students from across the region shared thoughtful ideas and demonstrated a genuine interest in civic engagement and leadership. Congratulations to Maggie Niedergeses of South Lawrence, Kenlee McDonald of E.O. Coffman, and Shyla Jayashankar of Memphis on placing in the competition.
Encouraging young people to think critically about their communities and how they can make them better is a worthwhile investment every single time.
Investing in leadership, doing the work, and preparing for the future
April also marked the graduation of our Leadership Lawrence class. We were honored to host Governor Bill Lee as part of the celebration and recognize this year’s graduates. Leadership Lawrence continues to be one of the best things we do as an organization because strong communities need informed and engaged leaders willing to step up and serve.
On the economic development front, we are currently supporting four existing industry expansion projects in Lawrence County. These projects represent reinvestment in our community and continued confidence in our workforce. If all four projects come to fruition, they could represent a combined 250 net new jobs.
Just as importantly, the sectors involved vary significantly. That is good for long-term economic resilience and helps us avoid becoming overly dependent on any one industry or employer.
In addition to existing industry growth, we are actively working several recruitment projects representing more than 3,000 potential jobs. While projects like these remain highly competitive and confidential, they reflect the increasing level of interest we are seeing in Lawrence County and Southern Middle Tennessee.
We are also continuing to prepare for the future. Lawrence County was recently selected by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to participate in the Property Evaluation Program, which helps communities identify and prepare strategic industrial sites for future investment. In economic development, preparation is important. Communities that are ready tend to be the communities that win.
Tourism development and Tennessee 250
On the tourism side of the shop, filming and interviews are now underway for a historical documentary showcasing Lawrence County’s story and heritage. This project is part of the Tennessee 250 program, which commemorates America’s 250th birthday and highlights the people, places, and stories that shaped our nation.
Lawrence County has a remarkable story to tell, and I’m excited that we have the opportunity to preserve pieces of our history while also creating something that can support tourism and community pride for years to come.
Bottom line
Over the last month, ribbon cuttings, civic engagement, leadership development, tourism initiatives, and economic development activity were all happening simultaneously across Lawrence County. To me, that is the clearest sign of momentum: people investing, serving, building, and choosing to believe in the future of this community.
April also brought public attention and criticism around local development conversations, including recent news related to a potential data center project. Without relitigating the specifics of the project or our local planning process, I was reminded that the cost of doing this type of work is often criticism.
Economic and community development requires difficult conversations, long timelines, and imperfect information. I am grateful for the members, friends, and partners of the Chamber who reached out with encouragement as our team worked through that moment. Your support means more than you know, and it reminds us why the work is worth doing.
Thank you for supporting the businesses, leaders, and partnerships that make Lawrence County great.
About the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce / Visit Lawrenceburg
The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce champions economic opportunity and community vitality by supporting local businesses, workforce development, and quality-of-life initiatives. Visit Lawrenceburg, the Chamber’s destination marketing effort, promotes Lawrence County’s attractions, events, and experiences to drive tourism, visitor spending, and long-term community growth.
Media Contact
Destiny Gobble, Communications & Hospitality Coordinator
destiny@lawcotn.com