Matt Hamilton/The Daily CitizenDeanna Mathis, left, and Stephanie Fisher visit with Newman, an adoptable dog from the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, at the Shaw booth during the Business Expo at the convention center on Wednesday.

DALTON, Ga. — Adrian Owenbey moved to Dalton just a few weeks ago, and she says she’s still getting to know the area.

But a morning at the convention center spared her quite a bit of time, she said.

“There’s so many businesses here, so many restaurants and groups,” she said. “I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to find out about all of them.”

Owenbey was one of the many people who packed the convention center Wednesday for the 14th annual Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

“We have 154 different local businesses with us today,” said Chamber Vice President of Member Services Beth Morrison. “The event continues to grow each year. It’s a chance for them to do business and to have a good time while they are doing it.”

While many of the businesses were small, corporate giants such as Shaw Industries were also well represented.

T.J. Kaikobad was on hand along with staff from his restaurant Cyra’s as well as a new restaurant he will be opening in downtown Dalton in a few weeks, Baja Coop.

“The one common factor for both (of the restaurants) is the ingredients that we use are all natural, no preservatives, no chemicals, no antibiotics,” he said. “Cyra’s menu features more upscale items and Baja Coop is going to be fish tacos, shrimp tacos and free-range chicken wings. Even those quick foods, we are putting an element of top-notch ingredients and quality.”

Kaikobad has been a key part of downtown Dalton for some 30 years. But he says that even with his reputation, events such as the Expo are important for him to get the word out about his business.

“You can be a fixture, but if you don’t let people know what’s going on, you may not be a fixture much longer,” he said.

The bakery Let Them Eat Cake has been around for a few years. Dana Hale took it over from the previous owner back in August. She said the Expo was a great way to introduce herself to customers as well as to introduce the bakery to new customers.

“Even though we’ve been around for a while, there are still some people who don’t know about us,” she said. “Our main advertising is word of mouth.”

While businesses were introducing themselves to potential new customers, Morrison said that wasn’t the only goal of the Expo.

“Statistics say that 80 percent of business done at a business expo is actually between the exhibitors,” she said. “Some of your potential clients or partners are sitting at a booth next to you or across the way, and you are sitting here for several hours, so it’s a great way to get to know each other and to do business.”

Dirk Verhoeff, executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, was one of those on hand hoping to make a connection with business owners.

“We want to educate people about waste reduction and waste management opportunities,” he said. “We have a Target Recycling program where we put out front-loader recycling bins at participating businesses.”