NILES — The area’s biggest networking event and only businesses to business expo returns to Summit Church Tuesday, Sept. 19 — and it is even bigger than ever.

The community is invited to the 8th Annual EXPOsing Greatness business and nonprofit expo from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Summit Church, 1700 West River Road.

A total of 50 businesses have signed up to showcase their businesses in booths, which will be set up throughout the church.

“The goal is to provide southwest Michigan a location to have a business to business expo,” said Randy Hendrixson, who serves as director for the Buchanan Chamber of Commerce and Four Flags Chamber of Commerce. “This is the area’s finest expo, and the only business to business expo that showcases some of the area’s finest businesses and organizations that are in our community,”

In addition to gathering information about local products and services, guests will be treated to food prepared by local culinary students, freebies provided by businesses, and networking — all free of charge.

All funds raised at the expo are invested back into the community.

“We always want to celebrate the fact that this event awards three high school students each year — one from Brandywine, one from Buchanan and one from Niles — a scholarship to Lake Michigan College,” Hendrixson said.

New this year, EXPOsing Greatness will also act as a career fair, offering job seekers an opportunity to connect with southwest Michigan businesses for employment opportunities. As potential customers visit booths to learn about the products and services the businesses offer, they will also be connected with potential employers, offering a solution to a problem a large portion of Buchanan and Niles businesses are facing.

“It’s no secret that staffing across the board —  whether it be manufacturing, retail, service, hospitality — is a major issue in our region,” Hendrixson said. “These folks are in the room with a captive audience and will be given the opportunity to be identified as a vocation that is hiring.”

The event is sponsored by the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, the Buchanan Chamber of Commerce, Lake Michigan College, On Base Productions, Leader Publications, DPM Events and Summit Church.

More information about this event can be found at exposinggreatness.com.