Beaufort County Committee of 100 is in the business of community building.

The nonprofit organization is made up of a collection of local business leaders dedicated to improving the county’s economy and encouraging its growth.

Jim Chesnutt, chairman of the committee’s Board of Directors, said it’s important for people to know that the committee, which was chartered in 1985, is separate from the county’s economic development department, but rather a complement to it.

“We are not the economic development train in this county,” he said. “We are here to help, to advocate for, to enable.”

“Generally speaking, the goal of the committee is to assist and enable the economic development board, which is appointed by the county,” Chesnutt said.

In the past, the Committee of 100 has played the role of facilitator when it comes to moving grant money or funds in between private companies and the county, as it is illegal under state law for a county to give funds directly to a corporation.

Among the many projects sponsored by the committee: a donation to the Beaufort County Community College Foundation to help pay for its digital sign; a loan to the formerly named Beaufort County Arts Council to help buy the Turnage Theatre; and using a Golden LEAF grant to refurbish the old Lowe’s building on 15^th Street.

But Chesnutt said it’s difficult to really explain all the committee does for Beaufort County, as the projects are numerous and have supported a wide variety of businesses over 30 years.

“It’s just a huge list,” he said.

Mostly, they just want to bring jobs back to the community, especially after the economic downturn in 2008, and market what the area has to offer, including the health care system, schools and cultural activities, Chesnutt said.

Next up on the agenda is a potential development project in Belhaven and a presentation to the Washington Noon Rotary in November.

As the projects vary from year to year, the core of the organization remains the same: to keep its spirit of community and continue working to improve the lives of those who live here.

“We need investment, and we need jobs,” Chesnutt said. “I want (the committee) to be completely transparent to the public.”