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Chamber Info

Benefits of Joining the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce

1) Improve Your Bottom Line

The Grinnell Chamber has a wealth of programs and activities that can help your company prosper. All you have to do is get involved! Chamber Members are encouraged to patronize a member when fulfilling business and personal needs for goods and services. It's good business and good citizenship.

2) Expand Your Networking

Annual Dinner and Business Partner of the Year Awards - The Chamber Annual Dinner is the highlight of the business year, recapping your business successes and recognizing our business leaders.

Business After 5 - This event gives you the opportunity to mix with other Chamber Members, potential customers, and future business partners.

Event Coordination - Volunteering on a committee of a community-wide event is a great way to develop relationships that result in collaborative business partnerships and gets you exposed to the community at large.

Ambassador Visits - Thirty Chamber Members visit businesses to hear about services and products offered. These individuals are committed to promoting business through the most effective advertising of all, word of mouth.

3) Enhance Your Credibility

Chamber Membership tells your customer that you are a reputable company participating in the local business community. When consumers know that a small business is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it and 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.

4) Member Support

Assistance with statistical research.
Monthly member spotlights in a newsletter distributed to over 5,000 homes.
Exclusive Member Deals, Discounts, & Buying Programs
Customized Business Evaluation Task Force
Access to Volunteer Support System

5) Gain Increased Visibility Through Cost Effective Marketing

E-mail blasts highlighting Member sales, specials, and events are sent to hundreds of consumers each week at no cost to Chamber Members.
Members can link their website to the Chamber site for free, and have any event or promotion listed on the community web calendar.
Members receive a free listing in the "What to Buy Where," "Services," and "GO" sections of our Member Directory and in our Monthly Newsletter that is mailed out to every household and business in Grinnell.
As a Member, you can utilize the Chamber's variety of direct mail lists and use the Chamber's bulk mail permit for free, dramatically reducing your cost for direct mail campaigns.
Advertising in the Chamber Monthly Newsletter is an extremely affordable way to reach over 5,000 households and businesses in Grinnell.
The Chamber will represent your business at local, regional, and state wide trade events including the State Fair by taking your brochure to thousands of potential customers.
Your business is listed in all community information and relocation packets, and listed in the Grinnell Visitor's Guide, distributed to 150,000 people annually.

6) Generating Programs for a Quality Community

Community events help brand our community and perpetuate our culture. Events bring us together to celebrate life in our city, and provide a venue for active citizenry. Without membership in the Chamber, many of them would not exist. The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce proudly facilitates, or participates in, the following events:

Ag Appreciation Day

College Alumni Weekend

College Welcome

Customer Appreciation Days

Educator of the Year Award

Farmer's Market (late May through late October)

Family Weekend - Grinnell College

5th Grade Spelling Bee

4th of July Parade

Friday Fest (May through October)

Happy Days

Homecoming Parade

Home Show and Business Expo

Jingle Bell Holiday

Kites Over Grinnell

Music in the Park (Thursdays in May through August)

Ridiculous Day

Vintage Car Show and Swap Meet

Click here to download a pdf brochure with more information regarding the benefits of joining the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce