Business and community leaders gathered along Ninth Street Friday to welcome Beltone to town with a ribbon cutting. The business, which provides hearing loss solutions, is locally owned by Caleb Williams.

“We’re really glad to be a part of downtown Meridian and contribute to being downtown and the business here,” he said.

Beltone, Williams said, has been in business for approximately 85 years, and he has worked with the company for 13 years. The company, he said, prides itself on the aftercare support it provides patients by answering questions and addressing any issues that may arise, and he and his staff look forward to continuing that service in Meridian.

“So we’re really excited to be here and to help the citizens of Lauderdale County and Meridian,” he said.

David Schuler, regional business manager for Beltone corporate, said he has seen Williams grow from assisting patients as a practitioner to now a Beltone location owner. Williams’ rise, however, has not dulled his enthusiasm for helping people, he said, and the people of Meridian will get to see that firsthand.

“He really does take that theme of good or great patient care to his whole staff,” he said.

Community Development Director Craig Hitt welcomed Williams and his staff and said the city is there to help if there is anything the new business needs.

“We’re happy to have you here and certainly think that this is a great location and know you will do well,” he said.

Helen Sims, membership coordinator for the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, said there has been a lot of activity in Meridian lately with an influx of new businesses, and the EMBDC is excited to welcome Beltone and its investment in the community.

“Right now it’s an exciting time to be a business in Meridian because I feel like there’s a lot of new action going on,” she said. “We have new businesses. We have just under 500 businesses that are part of the EMBDC, and we continue to grow, and we are just excited to have somebody who’s investing and reaching out and willing to put money into the community.”