Syracuse Police Chief Jim Layne, left, and Liz Salerno, executive assistant for the chamber, put together a sofa for the new Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce’s office last Thursday, June 20. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Anyone driving by may have noticed the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce office, 207 N Huntington St., Syracuse, has been receiving a much needed face lift over the last several months.

New siding has been added to the outside. The parking lot has been expanded with half of it done in asphalt and the remaining half done in gravel. Landscaping will be installed now that the heat wave has abated.

Inside the interior has received attention although it isn’t quite done yet.

Last Thursday, June 20, Ashley Dillon, executive director for the Syracuse -Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, rounded up some volunteers to help put the furniture together.

The board room features a long table with a refurbished rowboat as the overhead light fixture. David Wilkinson, Syracuse town manager, and Jeremy Doerr from Remax partners, quickly figured out how to put the chairs for the board room together. Within a few minutes they had all the chairs assembled.

Syracuse Police Chief Jim Layne and Liz Salerno, from executive assistant for the chamber, helped put together a couch.

Volunteers put together several chairs and accent tables which will eventually be staged in an inviting manner.

Jeremy Doerr, left, Remax Partners, and Syracuse Town Manger David Wilkinson team up to assemble a chair for the new Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce’s board room. The two were helping out Thursday, June 20. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

Along with the volunteer help, Dillon secured donations from chamber members, individuals and organizations such as the Wawasee Property Owners Association who donated funds to the SWCC Foundation, the non-profit side of the chamber, for both the exterior and interior work.

Dillon wants the chamber of commerce office to also act as a welcome center for visitors to the area.