Spotlight On: Reagan Gural, President & CEO, Alamance Chamber
June 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Reagan Gural, president and CEO of the Alamance Chamber, discussed the chamber’s significant achievements over the past year, including launching a small business grant program. She highlighted Alamance County’s strategic advantages for businesses, the current economic landscape, and how the chamber supports businesses through challenges like digital transformation and housing.
What have been some of the most significant milestones for the chamber in the past year?
The standout achievement for us was launching our small business grant program in Alamance County. We have a growing number of emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses, and in 2023, we initiated what we believe is the first program of its kind in our community. We awarded grants to seven businesses across Alamance County. Due to its success, our organization has increased the funding for the program for 2024 and is committed to continuing it through 2026. This expansion will allow us to impact more businesses, which is something I’m particularly proud of.
What are some unique advantages and strengths that Alamance County offers to businesses?
Alamance County’s central location in the state provides incredible accessibility. We have two major interstates cutting through our county, significant rail infrastructure, and easy access to two major international airports. Additionally, our growing regional airport further enhances our connectivity. This level of access creates an ideal environment for businesses to establish and grow here.
What is the economic landscape in the county, and what are the key industries driving the local economy?
Small businesses are vital to our community’s character, and there’s been a surge of entrepreneurs post-COVID-19. We’re building a strong ecosystem to support these entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’s unique how these smaller entities intersect with larger industries, creating a diverse community. We have a range of businesses, from startups to major players like Glen Raven Incorporated and Lotus Bakeries. This diverse environment not only attracts large industries to our county but also makes it an appealing place for their employees to live, enhancing the overall quality of life.
How are businesses in Alamance County navigating economic challenges, and what resources does the chamber provide?
The past few years have been challenging, but I’m proud of how our organization has supported Alamance County businesses. Whether it’s connecting them with resources, providing learning opportunities, or simply being a listening ear, we’ve played a crucial role in helping businesses adapt. The concept of pivoting business models and redefining company culture has been essential for many businesses as they adapt to post-pandemic realities.
Remote working has emerged as one of the biggest challenges. Our local employers are grappling with finding the right balance between employees’ needs to work remotely and the businesses’ operational requirements. Childcare has also become a significant issue. Many childcare providers couldn’t survive the pandemic, creating a shortage and posing a barrier to filling job positions. This has led to a high demand for childcare, making it difficult for employees who need to work remotely or require a more flexible schedule. The Chamber has been integral in helping businesses navigate these complexities and find solutions that work for both employers and employees.
How has the chamber’s role as a connector evolved with digital networking, social media, and technology?
At our Chamber, we’ve established a culture focused on fulfilling our mission and staying relevant to the business community. This involves being a convener, a connector for businesses and resources, and a champion for business growth and development. The shift from in-person to digital connections has been significant, and we’ve adapted by offering hybrid models for our programs. This allows people to choose between attending in person or accessing a virtual, recorded version at their convenience.
We’ve observed that while digital platforms are valuable, people still crave in-person connections, albeit less frequently than before. Consequently, we’ve adjusted our scheduling, so that in-person events are less frequent but more impactful, with higher attendance and deeper conversations. We also utilize our digital platforms to disseminate information, learning how different businesses prefer to receive information, and tailoring our approach to meet these varied needs.
What are the emerging trends in the business landscape across the county, and how is the chamber preparing to meet these new demands?
Alamance County is evolving into a global community, and we’re continually learning about different business cultures. The chamber aims to lead and be a role model in engaging with businesses from diverse cultures. We’re anticipating significant population growth in the next five to 10 years, and we’re creating spaces for discussions on preparing for this growth. This includes considering necessary infrastructure and investments to ensure our community is ready. With the expected job creation across the region, we’re preparing for people to live, shop, and attend school in Alamance County. Our focus is on making sure our community is well-equipped to welcome and facilitate this growth.
What is the state of housing in the county?
Workforce housing is a critical area where we need to see investment and growth. The Chamber participates in a local cohort focused on housing issues. We have a representative actively engaged in these discussions. Housing, including its affordability, is a priority in our conversations with state and federal representatives. It’s crucial for us to ensure that as housing grows in Alamance County, it remains affordable and accessible to our expanding community.
What is your vision for the county’s business community, and how does the chamber fit into that vision?We are in the midst of defining Alamance County’s vision as part of our five-year growth plan, which started in 2021. Community visioning is a crucial part of this process, and we’re actively engaging the entire community to participate and share their insights. We’re about halfway through this plan, focusing on gathering diverse perspectives to shape our collective vision.
Alamance County is at a pivotal point, with our strategic location and the anticipated job growth in the Carolina core region signaling an increase in population. It’s an exciting time for us, and I believe we have a very bright future ahead.
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