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UNION — The Union County Chamber of Commerce is hoping to have Gov. Nikki Haley address its Annual Member’s Banquet in March.

Torance Inman, chamber executive director, said Monday that the chamber is hoping to hold its banquet so it can accommodate Haley’s schedule.

“We are in communication with the governor’s office and hope to be able to hold the banquet when she can attend and be our guest speaker,” Torance Inman said. “We have not set a date for the banquet but hope to be able to have it so the governor’s schedule will permit her to attend. If we are unable to do so soon, we will make other arrangements and announce the date and keynote speaker then.”

Inman said that while the exact date has not been set, the banquet will be held in March at the Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center.

The highlight of each year’s banquet is the award presentation in which the chamber recognizes the Industry of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Service Group of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year.

Inman said the chamber has already contacted its more than 200 members asking for nominations in those categories. He said the winners will be chosen based on which industry, small business, service group and volunteer made the strongest contribution to the chamber carrying out its mission and serving Union County.

“We’ve sent out emails to our chamber members in preparation for our March annual meeting asking for nominations for Industry of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Service Group of the Year and Volunteer of the Year,” Inman said. “Each year the chamber will have a nominating committee that will evaluate each of the recommendations and make a selection based on that industry or business or group’s contribution to the chamber mission and its overall service to Union County as a whole.

The chamber’s mission is to improve the economic well-being of member businesses and key sponsors,” he said. “This is done by promoting the interests of member businesses and key sponsors locally; promoting targeted services to businesses they might not otherwise receive; and working closely with local organizations to promote our mission. That being done it will result in an attractive economic environment for doing business, better accomplishments of our partner organizations’ missions, and provide a better quality of life for the Union County community.”

At the chamber’s 2012 banquet, Lockhart Power was named Industry of the Year while Old Timey Car Wash was named Small Business of the Year, and the Union County Advanced Technology Center Service Group of the Year. Charlie Gregory was named Volunteer of the Year.

Chamber members interested in making recommendations for the awards should send their nominations to the Union County Chamber of Commerce no later than Friday, February 15. A short written summary should accompany your nomination. Nominations may be mailed to 135 West Main St., Union, faxed to 427-9030, emailed to torance@unionsc.com, or by calling the chamber office at 427-9039.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@heartlandpublications.com.