More than 80 Rome businesses are participating in the 25th anniversary of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo today at The Forum. “The Greatest Shopping on Earth” is the circus-carnival theme for the event, which is open to the public from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

All of the proceeds from the event help finance the chamber’s Shop Rome campaign.

Friday night, the Chamber hosted its Business After Hours program at the Expo for chamber members only.

Regina Wright, the executive director at Riverwood Retirement Life Community, said that she has generated a lot of referrals during the years from the Expo.

“We do so much networking,” Wright said.

Brenda Bowen at the Harbin Clinic said that the Expo is a good way to get out in the community and let people come by and ask questions.

“Sometimes they don’t have a doctor,” Bowen said.

Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Small Business Director Lowell Pratt said he expects more than 1,000 citizens to come through Expo.

“It’s a good chance to see a cross-sampling of the different kinds of business that are in the community,” Pratt said. “Then there’s all the fun stuff, there’s the giveaways and the door prizes, food from all the food vendors. It’s a fun time.”

Admission is $5 for adults, with children 6 and younger admitted free.

Corporate sponsors for the Expo include the Kindred Hospital of Rome, DaVita Dialysis, Coosa Valley Credit Union, Kroger, LaMarie’s at Magretta Hall, and Purchasing Alliance Solutions.