The local Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host a program designed to meet community needs by giving participants the tools to become informed and dedicated community leaders.

Leadership Beaufort, an educational and rewarding program sponsored by the Washington-Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, will feature seven workshops, each of which will be held over a span of four months, said Robin McKeithan, business manager at the Chamber of Commerce.

McKeithan said the program provides participants with an in-depth look at specific topics of community interest, such as city and county government, education, health resources, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement and the courts and economic diversity in Beaufort County. The program was developed by the Chamber to ensure a continuing bank of leadership talent is available to guide Beaufort County into the future. It consists of a series of one-day session designed to inform, challenge and motivate leaders to become involved in supporting and directing the future of Beaufort County, McKeithan said. Among the one-day sessions are: Planning, Growth and Infrastructure held on Feb. 12; Municipal Government held on Feb. 26; Beaufort County Government held on March 12; Nonprofit held on March 26; Economic Diversity held on April 9; Educational Resources held on April 23; Health Resources held on May 7; and a graduation ceremony held on May 21, according to the Chamber of Commerce, according to a Chamber document.

“It is a program we sponsor to meet our community’s needs by getting people more involved in the community and to encourage people to become community leaders,” McKeithan said. “Our hope is just that people will see the value of the program and want to become more educated and eventually become more involved in our community. It’s a hands-on program. We’re out and about in the community most of the time.”

McKeithan said participants will tour various sectors of the community and meet various officials in those different sectors. For example, the Municipal Government session will feature a day of meeting with the mayor, the city manager, representatives from the electrical department, as well as public works officials. The Educational Resource session involves participants meeting with county school officials and administration and learning how education in the county works, McKeithan said.

The course is designed for those who represent various businesses and professional sectors of the community, as well as individual potential community leaders, McKeithan said. The program is ideal for those wishing to learn more about the community while developing and refining leadership skills, whether participants are new to Beaufort County or have lived here all their lives. In previous years, the program has hosted retirees, new to Beaufort County, who participate in the program as a means to learn about the community and explore ways to get involved, McKeithan said.

Those interested in participating can request an application at the Chamber or download one online, which must be submitted to the Chamber by Feb. 1, McKeithan said. Participants can also nominate someone they believe would be a good candidate. Tuition for the program, which must be received prior to the first session, is $400, which includes cost of materials for the course, lunch during each session, transportation during some sessions and the graduation event. There is also a payment plan option available, McKeithan said.

McKeithan said participants are expected to attend all sessions. In order to graduate from the program, no more than one day can be missed, and if a participant cannot attend a session, please contact the Chamber immediately so the session will not be interrupted.