Mauldin Chamber & Welcome Center steps up its game with new online presence

Pat Pomeroy wants people to see Mauldin the way she sees Mauldin. And after 20 years at the helm of the Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center, she’s getting her wish.

Since first impressions in the digital age often come from an online presence, Pomeroy long wanted to step up the Chamber’s website game, but it always proved cost prohibitive for the organization with around 400 members. Then along came Clarissa Gainey of Bright Graphic Design.

“My dream for the Chamber has been to have a really nice website that would properly showcase our community, our businesses, healthcare and recreation options – all of the things people want to know about when they’re considering where they want to live, work and play,” Pomeroy said.

That’s where Gainey comes in. A resident of Mauldin and a small business owner there, Gainey found a home at the Mauldin Chamber and saw an opportunity to give back by designing a new Chamber website.

“I learned very quickly that this Chamber has a place for everybody, no matter your age, ethnicity or type of business,” said Gainey, a native of Brazil who has lived in the Upstate for many years. “You’re not always accepted just anywhere you go, but in Mauldin we’re all growing together – the city, the chamber, small and large business – the entire community.”

Located in one of the fastest growing regions of the country, Mauldin is seeing its share of new business parks, housing developments and a soon-to-be-developed City Center. As the operator of the city’s Welcome Center, Chamber staff and volunteers have the honor of being the first Mauldinites that many newcomers and prospective residents meet.

With offices inside the Mauldin Cultural Center, the Chamber and Welcome Center is within a short walk of City Hall and the Mauldin Sports Center, and is at the center of activity – culturally and businesswise. That’s why it’s so important that the Mauldin Chamber fittingly portray the essence of the community, according to Pomeroy and Gainey.

“We have people walk into our Welcome Center from all over the country,” Pomeroy said. “A lot of people are moving here to work or are looking to retire here. People see us as an affordable, family-friendly, safe community.”

For Gainey, the new website is designed to be the hub that provides newcomers, businesses and the community the information they need to have the best experience possible and to get a sense of what’s possible in Mauldin.

“At our Chamber events, you may find a small business owner sitting next to the CEO of a large company,” Gainey said. “You can form relationships here that you otherwise may never be able to.”

For more information on the Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce and Mauldin Welcome Center, visit the new website at mauldinchamber.org.