The Brewton Chamber of Commerce is getting a new home.

The city council Monday approved a five-year, $5,000-per-month lease with Gordy Development, the parent company of NDI/The Cracked Pot, to house the chamber and a new city welcome center.

The lease features an annual cancel clause if the budget doesn’t allow for the rent cost and is effective March 1.

Chamber President Melanie McGougin said the downtown location is a good one.

“Our plan is use the building as more of a welcome center for visitors where one can stop, have a cold drink or cup of coffee, use the restroom and get all the information available about Brewton.”

The site was Brewton’s Natural Decorations Inc. (NDI) downtown location and was being renovated to make way for professional office space and an event venue. Now, the space will “make it easier for the Chamber to host events and provide additional services for our members,” McGougin said.

“(Mayor Yank Lovelace) has been working to find a new Chamber location for a long time,” she said. “We are very excited for our new location. Where we are inside city hall, it isn’t conducive to the overall mission of the Chamber because a lot of people don’t know that’s where we are.  This new location will offer a number of new possibilities.”

Plans are to open in the new location sometime in April, McGougin said. The center will be manned Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and “hopefully” on Saturday with volunteer efforts, she said.

“Our vision is that this will be a place where local merchants can get their message out,” McGougin said. “It’s the Chamber’s job to market our city and promote local business. Here, we will be able to offer menus for local restaurants, coupons from retailers and other services for our members. It’s a very exciting time for the Chamber.”

In other business, the council:

• ratified recent economic development grant requests, as well as set a public hearing for a $20,000 request from Lisa McMillan’s Carlisa Inc., the local food ministry that plans to open a pay-as-you-can restaurant downtown. The hearing will be held on March 13.

• accepted a gift donation of 20 acres between The Brewton Standard and O’Bannon Park from Brewton Area Properties. The site is valued at $59,000.

• authorized an agreement with NAS-Whiting Field for services at the Brewton Municipal Airport.

• gave approval for the Paws Crossed 5K Wag & Walk on March 4 at 8 a.m. at O’Bannon Park.

Centralized downtown.

Will be used more like a welcome center, stop and get cold drink, coffee, use restroom for travelers, visitors.

Plan to

The space available in the new location will make it easier for the Chamber to host events and provide additional services for its members.

Hope to be in its new location sometime in April.

Market our city and promote our local businesses. Can offer menus from local restaurants

Coupon from local businesses,

Inside city hall isn’t conducive to the overall mission of the chamber, and members are excited about the new possibilities available one the move downtown is finished.

The facility will feature men and women handicap accessible restrooms. Board room with two offices. Have seating and conversation area. Grab local information about local businesses.

Invited to contact chamber director

Open to public Monday through Friday form 8-5 with plans to expand to weekend hours through volunteer efforts