PROCTORVILLE —

The Southeast Lawrence County Kiwanis Club is hoping that a regional summit for local business and community leaders will lead to big things — very big things.

The group is partnering with Advantage Valley to present a free regional summit at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fairland High School, 2160 State Route 243, Proctorville. Advantage Valley, based in Hurricane, W.Va., is a community and economic development partnership that serves 12 counties in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. The meeting was originally scheduled in March, but was changed two times due to inclement weather.

The summit is free and open to the public. In addition to Advantage Valley, there will be a variety of speakers from organizations including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Marshall University and local law enforcement agencies.

“This is really catered toward any business. Small or large, it really is going to be beneficial to everyone who attends. Whether they have just started a business or already have a business, we can give them the resources to draw on and avenues to expand your businesses,” said Ron McClintock, president of the Southeast Lawrence County Kiwanis Club.

He said the purpose of the meeting is to, hopefully, boost the local economy, jump start businesses and give inspiration to those wanting to start a business of their own.

“We really hope that the public will use the opportunity to come out and learn more about the opportunities available in the area,” McClintock said.

Donovan Quesenberry, long-time Kiwanis member and organizer of the summit, said the group saw a need for the summit and wanted to bring it to eastern Lawrence County.

He said the event is sponsored by Kiwanis, but it is not meant for recruitment purposes and it is open to everyone, not just those who are members.

Quesenberry hopes to make the summit an annual event, with it growing each year. In the future, he hopes to have state and federal government officials on hand, as well as representatives of major, nationally recognized businesses.

For more information about the summit or to register call Pam Legg, Kiwanis secretary, at (740) 886-8399 or email her at plegg@zoominternet.net.