SOUTH POINT — A good mix of professionals came out for the organizational meeting Monday night of the Lawrence County Young Professionals, an off shoot of the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce.

The new group, the brainchild of area attorney Casey Baker, is geared for county professionals aged 39 and younger.

“We had a good group of young people,” Baker said. “It sounds like we have a good solid core who are ready to run with this.”

At the meeting at the Chambers’ headquarters in South Point, the group decided they want to set up events to increase interest in the Young Professionals. They plan to have a happy hour the second and fourth Thursdays at various restaurants in the county.

“Maybe an OSU football watching party. Maybe a Cornhole tournament,” Baker said. “Our focus is to get as many people involved as possible and making sure that who gets involved stays involved.”

The “mix” that showed up included an attorney, a speech pathologist, engineers and professors from Shawnee State and Marshall University.

“Our mission is two-fold, to get young people involved in the community so they have reason to stay in the community,” Baker said. “And the flip side is getting businesses to understand there are very capable people in Lawrence County who can help them get their businesses growing.”

The Young Professionals will have regular meetings the first and third Mondays of each month stating at 6:30 p.m. Locations will rotate to give the group the chance to be introduced to a variety of places throughout the county. Young Professionals may also start a Facebook page.

For more information, contact the Lawrence County Chamber at (740) 377-4550.