Catawba County Chamber Joins Forces With Campaign for Free Enterprise to Host Jobs Town Hall

State's Business Leaders Discuss How to Create More Than One Million Jobs in North Carolina

HICKORY, NC–The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign today joined the Catawba County (North Carolina) Chamber of Commerce in a town hall meeting to discuss how to create 20 million jobs nationwide—1,084,700 in North Carolina alone—over the next 10 years. Leaders of these organizations, alongside Congressman Patrick McHenry, engaged hundreds of local business owners in a constructive dialogue on how to revive the state's economy.

"This campaign inspired us to make free enterprise the focus of our discussion on how to meet the critical need for job creation in our community," said Danny Hearn, president and CEO of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce. "The people of North Carolina are among the most creative and hard-working people in this country and we are eager to do our part in this unprecedented effort."

The town hall is one of several events the U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise is hosting as part of its "National Jobs Week" to spur discussion on how to meet the 20 Million Job Challenge. Chamber executives are traveling around the country to engage business leaders, community officials, and American citizens in a dialogue about the role of free enterprise in job creation and long-term economic prosperity. Events like today's in Catawba County will take place this week in Virginia, Illinois, Maine, and New Jersey, and will promote the Chamber's Strategy for New American Jobs which includes specific policy recommendations in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy, capital markets, education, and fiscal policy that will accelerate economic growth and get Americans back to work.

"Here in Catawba we met with community and business leaders, entrepreneurs and dreamers, and we found key allies who are committed to strengthening our free enterprise system through smart and effective pro-growth policies," said David Chavern, executive vice president and COO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We welcome this pledge of support and enthusiasm for free enterprise."

The visit comes on the heels of U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue's annual State of American Business address, in which he outlined top priorities for accelerating economic recovery and a strategy for job growth to get Americans back to work in 2010 and beyond. The campaign also recently launched the I am Free Enterprise video contest, which invites all aspiring and established entrepreneurs to share their story of free enterprise for a chance to win $50,000.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

# # #