Harlan County, Ky. Chamber of Commerce

06/10/2026

As a reminder, the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting for the month of June will fall on Monday, June 15th. The meeting will take place at the Harlan Campus of Southeast at 6PM.

06/01/2026

☕️ Join us for another Coffee & Connections hosted by the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce! ☕️

Start your morning with great coffee, meaningful conversation, and the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals from across Harlan County. Whether you’re a business owner, community leader, entrepreneur, or just looking to grow your network, this monthly gathering is a relaxed and welcoming space to build relationships and explore new opportunities.

📍 Hosted by: Sara White with Milton Hershey School
📅 Friday, June 19, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
📍 Moonbow Tipple
119 S Main Street, Harlan, KY

Coffee & Connections takes place every 3rd Friday of the month, and we’d love to see you there! Interested in hosting a future event for your business or organization? Reach out to Beckie Smith at 770-601-9644 for more information.

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

📸✂️ Congratulations to Bobby and Kelly Cornett on the ribbon cutting celebration for Bobby Cornett Photography’s new location in Harlan! ✂️📸

We were thrilled to celebrate alongside one of our valued Harlan County Chamber of Commerce members as Bobby officially opened the doors to his new space. Bobby’s talent behind the camera has helped capture so many important moments, memories, families, events, and businesses throughout our community, and we are excited to see his continued growth and success right here in Harlan County.

Bobby not only brings incredible creativity and professionalism to his work, but he also continues to invest back into our community and support fellow businesses through his involvement with the Chamber. We are proud to have him as part of our Chamber family.

A huge congratulations again to Bobby and Kelly on this exciting new chapter! Be sure to stop by and check out the new location next to Hometown Urgent Care.

📍1532 US 421, Harlan, KY 40831

And don’t forget… Chamber members can still take advantage of FREE professional headshots from 3 PM to 6 PM today! If you’ve been thinking about joining or renewing your Chamber membership, now is a great time to do it. 📸

05/14/2026

What a great afternoon at the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting!

Chamber President Brandon Pennington officially introduced the Chamber’s new Executive Director, Beckie Smith, who shared her vision for continuing to strengthen connections, support local businesses, and build momentum for the future of Harlan County. We are excited for the energy, ideas, and leadership Beckie is bringing to the organization and look forward to all that is ahead.

Members also heard updates from several Chamber committees and ongoing initiatives happening throughout the community.

Our guest speaker for the afternoon was Mountain Association represented by John Medlock. Mountain Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting economic development and strengthening communities across Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia. Their work focuses on helping businesses, organizations, and communities grow in sustainable and impactful ways.

During the presentation, attendees learned more about several resources and programs offered through Mountain Association including:
• Business coaching and technical assistance
• Lending and business financing support
• Energy efficiency and energy savings programs
• Entrepreneurship resources
• Strategic planning and organizational support

Thank you to everyone who attended and continues investing in the future of Harlan County and our local business community!

05/12/2026

📣 Join us for the next Harlan County Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting! 📣

We’re excited to gather with our members, local businesses, community leaders, and partners as we continue working together to move Harlan County forward.

📍 Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College – Harlan Campus
📅 Wednesday, May 13th
🕛 12PM

🍽 Lunch sponsored by the Historic Harlan Museum

Our guest speaker will be John Medlock with Mountain Association!

Whether you’re a longtime Chamber member or interested in learning more about what the Chamber is doing across Harlan County, we’d love to have you join us.

Learn more at:
www.harlancountychamber.com

05/12/2026

✂️🎉 Join us as we celebrate a new chapter for Bobby Cornett Photography with an official ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce!

📍 1532 US 421, Harlan, KY
(Located next to Hometown Urgent Care)

🗓 Monday, May 18th
⏰ Ribbon Cutting at 3PM

📸 Chamber members are invited to stay after the ceremony for FREE professional headshots from 3PM to 6PM as part of their paid Chamber membership benefits!

Not a Chamber member yet or need to renew your membership? This is a GREAT opportunity to join and take advantage of one of the many benefits of being part of the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce.

Come help us welcome Bobby Cornett Photography to their new location and support local business in Harlan County!

05/11/2026

☕🤝 Join us for Coffee & Connections! 🤝☕

Start your Friday morning off by connecting with fellow professionals, community leaders, and local businesses from across Harlan County at this month’s Coffee & Connections networking event hosted by the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce!

📅 Friday, May 15, 2026
⏰ 8:30AM–9:30AM
📍 Edward G. Hill Memorial Gymnasium
1 Positive Place • Harlan, KY
(Behind the Cawood Ledford Boys & Girls Club)

A huge thank you to our hosts, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Appalachia, for welcoming us this month!

Coffee & Connections takes place on the third Friday of every month and is a relaxed, welcoming way to build relationships, strengthen your network, and learn more about organizations and businesses making a difference in Harlan County.

Interested in hosting a future Coffee & Connections? Contact Beckie Smith at 770-601-9644.

Bring your business cards, bring a friend, and come make connections with us! ☕

05/11/2026

📣 Join us for the next Harlan County Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting! 📣

We’re excited to gather with our members, local businesses, community leaders, and partners as we continue working together to move Harlan County forward.

📍 Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College – Harlan Campus
📅 Wednesday, May 13th
🕛 12PM

🍽 Lunch sponsored by the Historic Harlan Museum

Our guest speaker will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Whether you’re a longtime Chamber member or interested in learning more about what the Chamber is doing across Harlan County, we’d love to have you join us.

Learn more at:
www.harlancountychamber.com

05/06/2026

We’re excited to welcome Beckie Smith as the Part-Time Director for the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce!

Beckie will be helping keep things moving both behind the scenes and out front, from organizing meetings and events to supporting communication, member outreach, and all the moving pieces that keep the Chamber active and growing. She’ll play a key role in coordinating membership meetings, assisting with events and initiatives, and helping ensure strong organization and follow-through across everything we do.

While Beckie is new to the Harlan County community, she has already shown a strong commitment to getting involved and making an impact. Her husband, James Smith, is from Harlan, and together they’ve made this community home. Beckie also brings valuable experience from her time volunteering with the Walton County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, giving her a solid understanding of the work and purpose behind a Chamber organization.

What makes us especially excited is the initiative she has already taken locally, including launching the Coffee & Connections series, which has quickly become a meaningful way for our members to gather, share, and support one another. That kind of energy and community-minded approach is exactly what this role is designed to build on.

This position is all about strengthening the work already being done, supporting our board’s vision, enhancing the Chamber’s impact, and continuing to find new ways to add value for our members and businesses across Harlan County.

Join us in welcoming Beckie. We’re excited about what she brings to the organization and even more excited about what’s ahead.