MOSES LAKE — Outside, the latest of the winter storms painted the streets like a frozen scene from Disney on Ice. Inside the community building at the Grant County Fairgrounds the Winter Carnival featured the best and the brightest of the Columbia Basin business community as it gathered for the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

The carnival theme was a nice pick-me-up to the icing conditions that have led to closures across the county over the past couple of days. Business operations, large and small, set up their monthly network gathering in what the chamber calls its Business After Hours. Combined with the Business Expo, it became more like what Moses Lake chamber executive director Debbie Doran-Martinez calls “After Hours on steroids.”

“We had a few cancellations from businesses in Wenatchee and the outlying area that were planning to be here. But most of the businesses were able to make it,” said Doran-Martinez, who expected as many as 61 business displays. “It’s an opportunity for our businesses to be on display to showcase their products and services. The Expo is like Business After Hours on steroids, because our normal Business After Hours includes about 150 people. This one could have as many as 600 to 700 people.”

The gathering featured local credit unions, hospitals, publishing and broadcast. It featured agriculture-related operations, human resources and employment agencies. The local breweries were there, along with a variety of services and operations. That’s one of the beauties of the Columbia Basin, Doran-Martinez said, is the variety.

There is the global footprint cast by AstaReal Inc., AeroTec, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. and the global data centers. There is agribusiness and national food processors. The area also includes operations that date back generations.

“That’s what I like about our area, we have anything from international companies to mom and pop shops,” she said.

As the smells from the catering buffet filled the air, the carnival atmosphere took shape. Some booths had activities like dart boards or hoop shooting, others featured video displays. There was popcorn and even a shaved ice vendor set up in the center aisle.

“I’m here tonight to remind people that we’re around. As a business owner, there’s that constant battle of keeping people aware,” said St. Brigid’s Brewery owner Tom Wytko said. “My marketing is mainly word of mouth. We do social media, but advertising is just so expensive for a small business that doesn’t have a million-dollar budget. So this is a good way to get our name out there.”

Where Wytko and his wife Whitney run the brewery and taphouse on West Broadway Avenue, Employment Connections job coordinator Rob West has a different set of circumstances.

“Everyone is here for a purpose and marketing strategies,” West said. “More exposure is always helpful. The people coming here are local business owners and they’re always looking to promote other local business opportunities.

“This is exposure to those people who already have an idea of promoting their local business. If you’re already promoting yourself, then you can use an environment like this to come up with other ideas.”