Business After Hours sponsored by the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce comes to Christian Opportunity Center on Tuesday.

The Life Skills facility at 111 South Third Street teaches skills and provides support for persons with disabilities; it currently supports more than 300 clients.

Hannah Vander Veer is director of the Knoxville Chamber; she tells KNIA/KRLS News the opportunity to meet in a casual atmosphere often leads to stronger relationships, even in a town where everybody seems to know everybody.

“I know that there’s been some relationship-building that has occurred with businesses that maybe aren’t familiar with one another,” Vander Veer says. “Any little bit counts in a small town; you sometimes think that you know everybody, but that’s not always the case. So just putting yourself out there, getting your business out there more and talking with other business owners is one of the best things that you can do.”

The event at Christian Opportunity Center runs from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday; guests may come and go at any time, but are invited to let the Chamber know if they’ll be in attendance.