The Power Partners Expo sponsored by the Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce, held Tuesday at Southern Crescent Technical College, attracted a large number of people interested in information on starting or expanding a business.

A one-hour panel discussion, in which panel members shared their experience of starting a business and answered questions from the audience, was followed by about 25 organizations providing advice on their area of expertise.

“It’s been very good. We had a fairly steady stream of visitors. I think all the vendors are satisfied,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bonnie Pfrogner.

Among those vendors were law firms, banks and local government agencies — all organizations that play crucial roles in opening a business, Pfrogner said.

“We had a number of people come by and ask questions. It’s been pretty steady,” said Dick Brooks, senior vice president at First National Bank.

Despite a struggling economy, it could be an excellent time to start a business if the idea is right, he said.

Pfrogner agreed.

“Now is the time to be looking out for how you might fit in the landscape, so to speak, and open a service that might be in demand,” she said.

Gail Brown, president of Lead Builders LLC in Griffin, has already done that. And even though she came as a visitor Tuesday, she could have been on the other side of the table.

“I wanted to meet other businesses and see what would be involved in expanding business,” Brown said. “Nothing but networking, and this is a great place to network.”

The expo may also help bring new businesses to Griffin-Spalding, as visitors ready to open a business may consider doing so locally, said Pfrogner.

“We’ve got to support one another,” she said, “and help our local businesses generate that traffic that helps them stay afloat.”