Pike County has proclaimed the week of May 11 to May 15 as Business Development week. Officials from all over the county gathered at the Johnson Center of Economics in Bibb Graves Hall at Troy University to sign the proclamation.

“We are here today to honor our small businesses through a joint proclamation, and we are here to gather and place special emphasis on Pike County’s Business Development Week activities next week,” said Mark Hays with Lockheed Martin.

The proclamation states, “Small business in Pike County embody the spirit of entrepreneurship, have a strong ethic and are the backbone of our economy.”

During Business Development Week, there will be special events and activities that are specifically for small businesses.

On May 12, the free Business “Fun”damentals workshop will be at the Pike County Economic Development Center from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Jeff Koch, owner of Chick-fil-A in Troy will discuss the dos and don’ts of business.

Jim Searcy, the executive director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama will be speaking at the Business Development Week breakfast on May 13 at 7:30 a.m. at the Troy Country Club. The cost is $15 per person.

Also, the Small Business Development Center is offering a Social Media Boot Camp at the Pike County Economic Development Center. The boot camp will show business owners how to take advantage of social media and grow a business using them.

“Our community is bustling with small businesses,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. “It’s not only the economic impact that they have, it’s the character, quality of life and the work ethic. All of those things are enriched by small business. The personal touch that people put on small businesses make them really special.”

Those who signed the proclamation included Pike County Commissioner Homer Wright, Goshen Mayor Jack Waller, Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage, Troy Mayor Jason Reeves, Janice Grayson with the Alabama Career Center, Judy Callin with the Small Business Development Center, Marsha Gaylord, director of economic development and Dr. Dan Smith with the Johnson Center of Economics at Troy University.