The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce will begin a search for a new director soon.

The position has been vacant for nearly two months since Ken Stoner resigned in July. Stoner spent nearly two and a half years as director.

“We hope to start advertising and interviewing for the director position shortly,” Chamber President Alice Deforest said.

The Chamber’s industrial relations group is continuing to make visits to local industries, DeForest said.

“We’re starting to recognize some of the concerns of the industries,” she said.

They’re also looking for a representative of Savannah Technical College and from the Industrial Development Authority to join the industrial relations council.

The Chamber also will be holding a Drugs Don’t Work seminar today, which helps industries and businesses to become drug-free workplaces. The seminar will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. at the Chamber office on Highway 21 in Springfield. Businesses can save up to 7.5 percent on worker’s compensation rates.

DeForest also said the Chamber hopes to start working with the county on the second phase of the Gateway project, which would go from the Rincon city limits on Highway 21 to McCall Road