Saline Chamber of Commerce Business Expo draws 400

SALINE COUNTY - The Saline County Chamber of Commerce's annual Business Expo was a successful showcase of area businesses, organizers say.

"We had about 400 people come through here, which is a good number," Chamber administrative assistant Kristen Shull said. "The Business Expo is a great way for businesses to get in front of people they might not otherwise reach."

It's also a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs. Cindy Mitchell, the facilitator for Saline County's CEO program, said it gives students in the program experience that could be critical to becoming a business owner and developer.

CEO, an acronym for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities, is a program in which county high school seniors develop an idea for a business, then learn how to find investors in the product, market it and successfully sell it.

"The young women and men in this program learn firsthand what it takes to build a successful business," Mitchell said. "Opportunities like this expo give them experience they need."