The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is moving its office to the “heart of Pike County.”

Board members announced on Monday that the Chamber offices will move March 1 to the Carroll Building, 101A East Church St., in downtown Troy.

“I believe the mayor and our council said it best when they said a county is only as strong as its heart,” said Adam Drinkwater, board chairman. ”And Troy really is the heartbeat of the county.”

The move to the Square is part of a strategic planning initiative started by the board about two years ago. “This included a new branding campaign with an updated icon, marketing materials and an upgraded website,” Drinkwater said. “We are currently working on new initiatives such as the Ambassadors Program. Our actions are very intentional and everyone should expect to hear more new initiatives in the near future.”

Drinkwater also said the move from the existing office in the Pike County Economic Development Corp. building at the Industrial Park on U.S. 231 South of Troy will increase visibility and accessibility for the Chamber.

“The Chamber right now is not in the most visible place, and visitors have a hard time finding us,” Drinkwater said. Relocating to the Square gives the Chamber the opportunity to increase signage and visibility, as well as “puts us in a place where we can see a lot of people.”

And, as the Chamber continues to partner with local businesses and government to revitalize and strengthen the downtown area, the move makes good sense. “There are a lot of positive things that will come out of downtown Troy,” Drinkwater said.

The Chamber will be leasing approximately 1,400 square feet of space in the new location; it previously leased office and meeting space from the Pike County Economic Development Corp.

Drinkwater said that the Chamber is an active part of the Pike County story and has been for many years. “We believe that this move will help to extend our services to our Chamber members. We invite companies and individuals to join us in this new venture, as we are excited about the future of the county, as well as the Chamber.”

The Chamber also continues its search for a new president, after Leigh Anne Windham resigned in December 2010.