Around 50 local businesses attended Thursday morning's inaugural Chamber of Commerce State of Sarnia-Lambton Business Breakfast.
Lambton County mayors and leaders gave a brief update on what's going on in their business sectors, from the good to the bad.
Chamber CEO Carrie McEachran said many businesses are still struggling coming out of the pandemic.
Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce CEO Carrie McEachran speaks during the inaugural State of Sarnia-Lambton Business Breakfast. 9 May 2023. (Photo by Blackburn Media Sarnia)
"So definitely inflation is a challenge as well as retention of staff. Retention, recruitment, keeping people in their role is a big, big challenge is what we're hearing."
Mayors from Brooke-Alvinston and Enniskillen Township discussed their expanding agriculture sectors, leaders from St. Clair Township, Petrolia and Plympton-Wyoming talked about their growing populations, and representatives from Point Edward and Aamjiwnaang highlighted a few exciting projects they have in the works.
More than 80 people attended the event at Aamjiwnaang First Nation's Maawn Doosh Gumig Community and Youth Centre on Virgil Avenue.
McEachran said it sold out within two weeks of it being announced with a very large waiting list.
"We've been hearing from chamber members that they want to hear what's happening locally across the county, so we thought what a better way to do it then bring everybody together and let's hear what's happening," she said. "We're already being asked to do it in different areas across the community, so we are positive that it'll be happening again."