Program of Work

Chamber Marketing YOUR Business
•    Grant County Living Guide/Online Membership Directory
•    Mailing Labels
•    Monthly e-Newsletter
•    Online Membership Directory
•    Referrals
•    Relocation Packages
•    Website

Programs/Events
•    Annual Dinner
•    ATHENEA AWARD
•    Business Before/After Hours
•    Candidate Debates
•    Community Marketplace
•    Golf Outing
•    Groundbreaking
•    Legislative Dinner
•    Member Breakfast
•    Ribbon-Cuttings/Open House Events
•    S.C.O.R.E. Chapter #550
•    Third House Sessions

Groups/Committees
•    Ambassadors Club
•    Board of Directors
•    Chairman's Circle
•    Governmental Affairs Committee
•    Professional Association:
     •    Financial Managers Association
     •    Grant County Young Professionals Network
     •    Human Resources Association
     •    Sales & Marketing Assocaition

Chamber Marketing YOUR Business
Business & Community Information Assistance
 The Chamber is the communication hub for businesses and residents within Grant County and beyond. Regardless if someone needs a referral of a specific type of business, is relocating to the area, or is looking for prospective communities to relocate a business, the Chamber is the natural go-to place for information. The Chamber actively promotes its members at all times and provides information to individuals everywhere.

GrantCountyLiving Guide/Membership Directory
The Grant County Living Guide features the best our community has to offer, from parks and recreation, to housing and healthcare, to arts and entertainment to economic development and education. Targeted towards new residents, the Living Guide is a great introduction to all the resources of Grant County. A full Chamber member business directory is also included in the guide. Chamber members are listed alphabetically, as well as by business category for quick reference. The Membership Directory is also available on the Chamber's website.

Mailing Labels
Chamber members can purchase mailing labels for all Chamber members and promote a special event or promotion. mailing labels are another vehicle by which the Chamber helps its members get the message out about the business.

Monthly e-Newsletter
The Chamber's monthly e-newsletter is full of news about Chamber members and special events. The new digital format allows for expanded coverage. From ribbon cuttings to professional promotions and special events, no Chamber member's news is too small to be included in the newsletter. The newsletter is sent to more than 2,000 Chamber contacts. To submit information for the Chamber's e-newsletter, simply email Cory. The Chamber e-newsletter covers the news of the Grant County business community.

Referrals
The Chamber is the community's hub for information; therefore, when someone is looking for a specific type of business, location of a business or looking to relocate to the area, the Chamber is their first call. On a daily basis, the Chamber is referring member businesses to individuals within our community.

Relocation Packages
When businesses or individuals are relocating to the Grant County area they are provided with a relocation packet from the Chamber. This packet includes the membership directory, information on Chamber member businesses, clubs and organizations and other pertinent relocation information.

Website
News, events, photos, information and resources regarding Chamber programs, etc., as well as the most current and comprehensive business directory in Grant County are all available on our website. The Chamber promotes the website on all marketing materials and encourages members to visit frequently to stay abreast of Chamber news, events and information. Each member has a business page on the Chamber site with linking privileges.

Programs/Events:
Annual Dinner
Every fall the Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce holds its Annual Dinner. The Annual Dinner includes an evening of networking, dinner, presentations & awards. This event is an opportunity for Chamber members to celebrate the past year.

Athena Award
The Athena Award is given annually to a business woman in the Grant County area who has demonstrated leadership, dedication and makes a difference in our community. The award, a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage, and wisdom, is the highlight of the Chamber's Annual Dinner.

Business Before/After Hours
Business Before/After Hours is an opportunity for a Chamber member to host other Chamber members at their place of business. These events provide an excellent networking opportunity for members to mix and mingle. The hosting Chamber business provides information about their business, hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

Candidate Debates
The Chamber hosts a primary and general election candidate debate. This forum provides a non-biased platform for all candidates to answer questions regarding various topics at hand. Candidates debates allow the public to become informed on the opinions of each political candidate. The Chamber believes that everyone should have the opportunity to voice their opinion, as well as gain knowledge from an open and fair forum.

Community Marketplace
Providing opportunities for Chamber members to promote their businesses, as well as learn about other opportunities within Grant County, is the goal of the annual Community Marketplace. The Community Marketplace is held in the fall and provides Chamber members the ability to set up a booth to publicize their business. The Community Marketplace offers exhibitors the opportunity to network with other businesses during a business-to-business networking lunch as well as to potential clients during the actual event.

Golf Outing
Each summer the Chamber hosts its annual golf outing. The golf outing is a great way for businesses to network and promote their business. There are contests such as longest putt, longest drive, hole-in-one and team rankings which produce excellent prizes. The annual golf outing is a scramble with a morning and afternoon shotgun start. Lunch and goody bags are also provided to all participants.

Ribbon Cuttings/Open House Events
Let the Chamber coordinate a ribbon cutting event for your business. The Chamber invites the Mayor and other leaders in the community to attend the event. The Chamber even provides the ribbon and big scissors. Open house events are another opportunity for Chamber members to promote their business. The Chamber emails an invitation to all its members regarding the event and assists in the coordination of the events. The information for ribbon cuttings and open house events also appears in the monthly e-newsletter.

S.C.O.R.E. • Business Development Counseling
S.C.O.R.E. is a group of retired business professionals who counsel prospect and new business owners. The members of S.C.O.R.E. provide guidance and advice on such topics as financing, business plans, etc. The services offered by S.C.O.R.E. are available to anyone in the community free of charge.

State Legislative Dinner
Each winter the Chamber hosts a dinner at the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis, inviting our state legislators and Chamber members to evening of good food and informal yet candidate discussion on state legislative issues. The annual dinner is just one of many ways the Chamber bridges the gap between Grant County and state legislative issues.

Third House Sessions
The Chamber hosts a series of Third House Sessions at the WIWU TV-51 in partnership with WIWU TV-51, and the Grant County Farm Bureau. All of Grant County's state legislators are invited to participate. The forum allows local citizens to ask our state elected officials questions about pending legislative issues. The forums are always well attended and rebroadcast several times on WIWU TV-51.

Groups/Committees:
Ambassadors Club
From greeting guests at Business After Hours and special events, to personally delivering Living Guides to Chamber members, and attending ribbon cutting ceremonies and open houses, the Ambassadors Club is one of the most visible groups of the Chamber. The Ambassadors Club meets monthly to discuss business and attends almost every event the Chamber hosts. Each member of the Ambassadors Club wears the signature burgundy blazer.

Chairman's Circle
While all Chamber members are equally important, the Chairman's Circle program recognizes major contributors with a series of value-added perks, such as the golf outing, annual dinner and Community Marketplace registrations, as well as being listed on the Chamber's business stationary and website. All Chamber members are eligible for Chairman's Circle enrollment starting at the Silver annual membership level of $1,545.

Board of Directors
The Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce is overseen by a 19-member board of directors composed of local business leaders, representing the education, financial, legal, logistics, manufacturing, media, medical, real estate, retail, and service sectors of our economy. The board conducts monthly meetings.

Governmental Affairs Committee
The Chamber is very active in local, state, and federal legislative issues. A standing Governmental Affairs Committee meets monthly to discuss pending legislation and governmental issues that directly affect the business community of Grant County. In addition, the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee oversees and facilitates election debates, Third House sessions, surveys, and other an other legislative forums.

Financial Managers Association
The Financial Managers Association meets on a quarterly basis to discuss the latest regulatory issues and share best professional practices. The association is open to all CFOs, accountants, financial managers and bookkeepers.

Grant County Young Professionals Network
The Grant County Young Professionals Network is a group of young professionals that meet on the third Thursday of the month for a mixer which promotes networking and allows members of the group to hear about community events. GCYPN is the pipeline for many young professionals to get involved in the community through both business and philanthropic events.

Human Resources Association
The Human Resources Association meets quarterly to discuss the latest trends in human resources work and development for industries and businesses. The Human Resources Association offers a forum to discuss concerns, ideas and encourage application of a scientific approach to the solution of the human problems of the business world.

Sales & Marketing Association
The Sales & Marketing Association will help your network and promote your business. Share and gain sales and marketing strategies and get connected with community news. In addition, you will learn valuable tools to help hone your sales and marketing skills.