Explore Oak Ridge to co-locate with Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

 

Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau) will be moving its operations from its current location at 102 Robertsville Road to co-locate with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in July, according to an agreement reached by the two organizations earlier this week.

The Chamber building is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near Oak Ridge High School and across from the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The initial lease is for three years, with two additional one-year extension options. It will position the Chamber, Explore Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, and the Roane State Tennessee Small Business Development Center in one facility, a press release said.

“This co-location creates a ‘one-stop-shop’ for Oak Ridge by joining the Chamber, Explore Oak Ridge, the Industrial Development Board, and Roane State’s Tennessee Small Business Development Center in one place,” said Parker Hardy, president and chief executive officer of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. “All of us have compatible goals, and this really positions everyone for better alignment. Marc (DeRose) and the entire Explore Oak Ridge staff and volunteers do a great job for Oak Ridge, and this co-location, which has been under discussion for several months, helps to build a great alignment among our staffs and our volunteers.”

“The synergy created by the relocation and cooperation of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Explore Oak Ridge makes for significant positive momentum as both organizations promote our community,” said Explore Oak Ridge Board Chair Jim Dodson.

“We’re very excited and optimistic about this move to the Chamber building,” DeRose said. “It will help improve visitor accessibility to our services and allow us a great opportunity to partner and align with three organizations that have very similar goals to ours. We feel that alignment with the Chamber, IDB, and Tennessee Small Business Development Center on how we market Oak Ridge is a critical step in attracting visitors to the city. Our new location will undoubtedly give us a strong advantage in achieving this mission.”

Phil Andrews, vice President and chief financial officer of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and chairman of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors said, “I think I speak on behalf of my fellow volunteers at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce when I say that we look forward to collaborating with the Explore Oak Ridge staff and volunteers in our common goals to continue to make Oak Ridge a great place to live, work and play.”

This press release was submitted by Kathy Gillenwaters of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.