NORWICH – Dozens of Chenango county business partners stopped by the Chenango Arts Council in downtown Norwich Tuesday evening to network and check in with one another at Commerce Chenango's monthly installment of Business After Hours.

Hosted within the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries located within the Arts Council, the group of guests were brought up to speed on a number upcoming events planned at Chenango County's hub of fine arts and entertainment.

“We're changing the way that the community sees the Arts Council, and it's our mission to enrich everyone's involvement in the arts in this community,” said CAC Executive Director Diane Batson-Smith. “This is an organization that belongs to everyone, and we've been working very hard to brach out to community member of all ages by offering an array of outreach ad arts education for children and adults throughout the county and beyond.”

Commerce Chenango President Steve Craig indicated that organizations such as the Arts Council make Chenango County a more vibrant and attractive place for out-of-towners, and spoke to the importance of having a culture base to support future economic growth. “Places like [the Chenango Arts Council] makes our area stand apart from so many other communities.