In an effort to develop “new relationships” on a statewide business front, local residents will travel to Montgomery Thursday for the first-ever Covington County Day.

Event organizer Neil Springstead said the event is sponsored by the Covington County Economic Development Commission, and will be a casual meet and greet held on the Capitol grounds at the Avenue of Flags.

“We will have tents set up on the Capitol lawn, and we will visit and talk about the great things about Covington County,” he said,

A lunch featuring Covington County’s Snowden Sausage will be served to an estimated 1,000 people.

“I wanted to do something that was Covington County, and the sausage is manufactured right here on River Falls Street,” he said.

Last week, Springstead said he and CCEDC president Tucson Roberts handed out invitations to state offices, which include the House, Senate and their staffs, governor’s office; and many more.

“We gave out 1,200 tickets,” Springstead said. “We are prepared to provide food for 1,000 people.”

“We are trying to market the county and try to create a perception that Covington County is a great place to do business,” Roberts said.

“We want people who come out there to meet the leaders in the state and build a relationship with them.”

“Speaker of the House Seth Hammett has been very helpful to us, but he is getting ready to retire,” Springstead said.

“It is important for us to develop new relationships. We want them to know that we are open for business and looking for business. We want them to keep Covington County in mind when budgeting. Those who reside north of Montgomery may not know anything about the county.”

Springstead said that the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce is chartering a bus; representatives from LBWCC, Savannah Terrace, Andalusia Manor, Southeast Alabama Gas District, the city of Andalusia, county government and city of Opp are planning to attend.