Chamber of Commerce brings back annual banquet in January

Blackwell Area Chamber of Commerce officials made waves when they dropped a surprise announcement last week, setting the annual Chamber banquet for Jan. 21.

This will be the first Chamber banquet since January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic struck the globe. The Chamber opted not to host a banquet in 2021 because of coronavirus safety restrictions.

The Chamber banquet is a celebration of Blackwell businesses and individuals. Awards given during the banquet include the “I Am Blackwell” Award, the Citizen of the Year Award, Volunteer of the Year Award and Chamber Director of the Year Award.

Each month, the Chamber announces a new Business of the Month Award winner. All 12 businesses that won during the year are eligible for the Business of the Year Award at the banquet.

The upcoming event will mark the 127th Chamber banquet. 2020’s banquet honored Blackwell High School band director J. Wayne Hudson as Citizen of the Year, and Blackwell Elementary School teacher Haley Curfman accepted the “I Am Blackwell” Award. Bubba’s Outdoor Sports was recognized as the Business of the Year, and Terrie Grell was named Volunteer of the Year.

More information on the banquet will be available in the coming weeks.