Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC

Nearly 200 business and community leaders gathered this week for the Chatham Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Economic Outlook Brunch to celebrate progress and unveil a forward-focused vision for 2026. 

The program was presented by Fidelity Bank and hosted by Fearrington Village. It featured a regional economic outlook from Bethany Greene of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, who provided insight into labor markets, regional growth trends, and economic indicators impacting local employers.

2026 Economic Outlook Presentation Slides

The Chatham Chamber also released findings from its inaugural 2026 Local Business Conditions Survey, sponsored by Enbridge, capturing responses from 94 Chatham County businesses. The survey establishes a baseline for tracking business confidence, hiring expectations, and economic conditions year over year. 

The findings from the 2026 survey has shown us that both realism and optimism are in the same room with Chatham businesses cautiously optimistic, but operating under pressure.

They expect growth.
They expect higher costs.
They are holding their workforce steady.
They want help being seen and connected.

2026 Local Business Conditions Survey Slides

2025 Milestones

During the program, Past Board Chair Chris Elkins reflected on several significant accomplishments:

• The onboarding of President & CEO Rebecca Dickenson in April 2025.
• Relocation of the Chamber’s offices to 79°West Coworking & Innovation Hub to improve accessibility and expand member benefits.
• Launch of the #ThisIsChatham Bus Tour in partnership with Leadership Triangle and the Goodmon Fellows Program, positioning Chatham County as a regional destination for growth and investment.
• Hosting the first Annual State Legislative Forum and Local Government Appreciation Reception with presenting sponsors Galloway Ridge and Chatham County Economic Development Corporation.
• Welcoming 95 new member businesses to the Chamber.

2026 Priorities

Board Chair Lewis Hendricks outlined a strategic focus on connection, practical business support, and expanded advocacy capacity.

Key initiatives include:

• A goal of onboarding another 100 new member businesses.
• Full launch and adoption of the Chaymber mobile app.
• Quarterly Young Professionals programming.
• Launch of the Solopreneur Alliance peer network.
• Expanded advocacy efforts, including onboarding Regional Senior Policy Advisor Ian Scott.

“Our focus is simple,” Hendricks shared. “Connection, practical support, and advocacy that reflects the realities of today’s business environment.”

Award Recipients

The Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award was presented by Sara Stephens of Duke Energy to Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Chatham County Schools.

Under Dr. Jackson’s leadership, AVID programming has expanded district-wide, achieving a 100 percent graduation and college acceptance rate among AVID seniors and generating more than $24 million in scholarships in 2025. The district also ranked #1 in the state for growth during the 2024-2025 school year and achieved its highest-ever graduation rate at 90.4 percent.

The Service to the Chamber Award was presented by Past Board Chair Chris Elkins to Cheryl Littleton for her steadfast leadership and dedication during a period of organizational transition.

President & CEO Rebecca Dickenson closed the program by encouraging business leaders to remain engaged and invest in collective momentum for the year ahead.

“We are not just hosting events,” Dickenson said. “We are building the infrastructure for connection, collaboration, and long-term opportunity in Chatham County.”