Apex Creates Small Business Advisory Group to Boost Local Promotions

The Apex Economic Development Department announced the creation of the Apex Small Business Advisory Group on January 2, 2026, establishing a quarterly meeting schedule for business owners and managers to participate in planning promotions and tourism-related initiatives. The town posted four meeting dates for 2026: January 21, April 7, July 14 and September 16, each set for 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The announcement frames the group as a forum for shaping local marketing and event efforts including Restaurant Week, Love Local and other downtown activities.

Town officials positioned the group as a regular channel for small businesses to influence how the town markets downtown and draws visitors. Meeting times are set in the evening to accommodate business hours and to encourage owner participation across retail, restaurants and service sectors. The Economic Development page on the town website lists Colleen Merays as the contact for businesses with questions and for those who wish to engage further; additional details and the announcement are posted at apexnc.org/1812/Apex-Small-Business-Advisory-Group.

For local businesses, the advisory group presents a direct opportunity to affect promotional calendars, cross-promotion strategies and event logistics that shape consumer traffic patterns. Coordinated marketing around events such as Restaurant Week or Love Local can concentrate shopper attention on downtown blocks, extend customer visits and improve the return on municipal event investments. For residents, more business-led input could translate into a greater variety of neighborhood programming and a downtown that better reflects local demand.

From a policy and economic development perspective, the group reflects a broader municipal trend toward institutionalizing stakeholder feedback. Regularized meetings create a record of proposals and priorities, which can help staff allocate marketing resources and measure whether particular campaigns meet objectives for visitation and sales. The structure also reduces ad hoc outreach and can improve alignment between business promotion and tourism strategies.

The group’s first meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2026. Businesses seeking to participate or learn more can contact the Apex Economic Development office through the town’s web page and the listed contact, Colleen Merays. As planning proceeds through the year, meeting outcomes will indicate whether the forum produces tangible changes in event design, marketing tactics and downtown economic activity.