Special Announcement

The Lawrence County Economic Growth Council has announced a change in leadership with the resignation of CEO Shance Sizemore. Sizemore has been with the organization since 2016 and will continue in his role over the next several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

“The Lawrence County Economic Growth Council expresses our gratitude to Shance for his dedication and invaluable contributions toward the advancement of economic development in Lawrence County.  We extend our best wishes to him in his future endeavors,” said Growth Council Board President Liz Irwin. “The board and staff are committed to continuing the Growth Council’s work for the benefit of Lawrence County businesses and our workforce.”

The Growth Council is contracting with Radius to manage basic economic development functions for the organization in the short term. Staff will continue with workforce development activities under the guidance of Joe Timbrook. Board officers will oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization, working closely with the staff and board members.

The Growth Council and Bedford Chamber of Commerce are working together to identify a leadership strategy that works for both organizations. The Chamber will continue to operate under the guidance of its board of directors.

 “The Bedford Chamber works closely with the Growth Council to serve our local business community,” said Alyssa Prince, Board President of the Chamber. “We appreciate Shance’s leadership of our Chamber and thank him for his many years of leadership and service to our community. We will continue to partner with the Growth Council on next steps for both organizations.”

The Growth Council plans to engage in a strategic visioning exercise to understand the economic development needs within Lawrence County and develop a plan based on stakeholder feedback. The results of that plan will help guide the organization’s future.

“Economic development continues to be a priority for Lawrence County,” said Irwin. “We recognize the impactful role that the Growth Council has had in business attraction, retention, and in workforce development. We have heard the message from our local businesses that economic development is critical. As an organization, we are going to work together with our stakeholders to find a path forward that helps grow our businesses, build our workforce, and showcase all that Lawrence County has to offer.”