Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

98 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 was broke by with someone eating nine pounds of collards in 30 minutes.” Bailey Harris, of the Ayden Chamber of Commerce talks about the chamber’s focus on promoting the town beyond these prominent events. She shares, “Our mission is to promote and grow Ayden by supporting our business community, and by enhancing our businesses. We also act as a convener to connect businesses and bring people together for the overall good of the community.” These initiatives engage the community, while also attracting visitors to the town. Christmas Town in Ayden is one major event which includes local vendors for Christmas shopping, a Christmas Town for kids, a parade of lights, and a storefront business decoration contest that enhances the holiday spirit in the community. “We turn our downtown area into as close to a Hallmark Christmas movie as possible,” Bailey depicts. Recognized as one of the best small communities in which to raise a family, the town of Ayden is committed to preserving this reputation. As for what the future holds, Mayor Tripp offers, “My goal is to bring economic growth and development, and to provide more jobs to our citizenship, to help those that need jobs. That will be our focus moving forward, but the quality of life is crucial, and the at home feeling, and being a family. That’s what Ayden’s about.” PREFERRED VENDOR/ PARTNER n Economic Development Ayden, NC www.ayden.com