As a member of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, you are aligned with more than 475 other businesses and individuals in an organization that is working to strengthen the long-term economic vitality of its members and the community. You will find that many of our specialized services have been designed to meet your needs. Be sure to put them to work for you today!
Leadership
Volunteer Opportunities
Member Benefits
Sponsorship Opportunities
LEADERSHIP
The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce is leading the way in our community.
Our mission - "To provide a positive leadership role in the greater Marshalltown area to promote business activity that ensures the highest quality of life for present and future generations of area residents."
3-star Accreditation - The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce is a 3-star accredited chamber of commerce awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Of the 6,936 recognized chambers of commerce in the United States, only 298 are accredited. This 3-star designation places the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce in the top four percent of all chambers in the country.
Annual Priorities - The Chamber's annual priorities are determined by our board of directors and provide a blueprint of our goals and activities for the year. Priorities that meet the mission of the Chamber include:
- Meeting or exceeding U.S. Chamber accreditation standards to create the strongest possible organization.
- Increasing the value of membership using technology, strong events and additional opportunities for building member to member relations.
- Strengthening the voice of our business message to impact the decision of government at all levels.
- Boosting the area's economy through programs like Target 5 - Buy In!
- Building a stronger community by improving community appearance and pride.
- Utilizing the 7 Big Ideas by 2011 as the strategic plan for leading our community development, connecting business community resources to implement these ideas as appropriate.
- Developing workforce strategies directed at early childhood, higher high school graduation standards and more extensive continuing education/job training opportunities.
Iowa Valley Leadership Program - Each year, the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Valley Continuing Education select 22 to 26 dynamic individuals who represent a cross section of the community and bring diverse strengths to the team to create the Iowa Valley Leadership Class. These emerging leaders take part in a nine-month program that engages them in community activities. They go on to hold leadership positions in their companies, serve on non-profit boards, volunteer for community organizations and hold public office. These leaders help make Marshalltown a great place to live, work and do business.
Local and State - The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce advocates for statewide business issues by working in conjunction with the Iowa Chamber Alliance and for national business issues with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce through the Government Affairs Committee.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Chamber offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to its members, through participation on a number of internal committees and task forces.
Ag/Business - Agriculture is a key part of the diverse economy of Marshall County. The Chamber, through its members serving on this committee, is uniquely positioned to identify new value-added agricultural opportunities, assist current value-added projects, raise the awareness of the importance of agriculture and strengthen the rural/urban relationship in Marshall County.
Ambassadors - The Chamber Ambassadors are the goodwill arm of the Chamber. The Ambassadors represent the Chamber at a number of functions throughout the year, including ribbon cuttings, courtesy calls, welcome receptions and a number of other Chamber events. The Ambassadors communicate the message and presence of the Chamber throughout the area.
Government Affairs - Decisions made at all levels of government have an impact on your business. The Chamber, guided by this committee, uses local resources and our affiliations with the Iowa Chamber Alliance and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce to carry the pro-business message to elected officials at all levels of government. As examples, in 2006 we joined in the successful effort at the state level to derail the effort to alter Iowa's Right to Work status, stop employee choice of doctor in the workers comp program and stop the adoption of prevailing wage in government contracting. At the national level we recently joined in the successful effort to stop "card check" legislation. Legislative alerts, candidate forums, legislator luncheons, Des Moines Summit & Legislative Day and the Washington DC Summit are tools used by this committee to carry the voice of business to elected officials.
Keep Marshalltown Beautiful - Demonstration of community pride through outstanding community appearance is critical in our ability to grow our economy by attracting new businesses and residents. A successful community betterment program translates into more opportunities for your business to be successful. This committee is actively working to increase public awareness for keeping Marshalltown beautiful and is advocating for more nuisance enforcement and stronger property maintenance ordinances within the City of Marshalltown.
Marketing - The Marketing committee actively promotes Chamber member businesses through the annual Spring Home Show, Business After Hours, Business to Business Showcases, Target 5 – Buy In!, and additional events throughout the year. The Marketing committee specializes in promoting business to business connections and buy local initiatives.
Membership - Recruiting and retaining Chamber members is integral to the continuation of the many programs and services provided by the Chamber. The Membership committee works to inform prospective members as to why it is a sound business investment to join the Chamber, to make new members feel welcome during a quarterly New Member Orientation, as well as retain members through ongoing business connections.
Target 5 – Buy In! - Every year local businesses, institutions and governments spend nearly $1.2 billion in goods and services from out-of-area suppliers. Shifting just 5% of this spending to local businesses and service providers would have a significant impact in growing jobs and building businesses. Target 5 - Buy In is a pro-active campaign designed to get businesses, institutions and governmental entities to shift 5% or more of the purchases they are making with out-or-county vendors to local suppliers. It's working -- over 50 local businesses have made the commitment to Target 5 - they're buying in!
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MEMBER BENEFITS
We encourage our members to take advantage of these member-only opportunities to grow their business and build relationships.
Annual meeting - Each year, the Chamber hosts a membership meeting to review the year's priorities and look to the future to discuss Chamber priorities and issues of importance to our members. This event allows us to honor Chamber members that have had a positive impact on the business community and recognize significant community achievements.
Area dollars - More than $110,000 in Area Dollars are sold every year. That's $110,000 that is kept locally and spent with Chamber member businesses. Area Dollars promote a common gift certificate that can be used at any Chamebr member business.
Business After Hours - Our monthly Business After Hours give members the opportunity to visit member businesses, socialize and network with fellow members in an informal setting.
Business to Business Showcase - Four times a year, the Chamber hosts a Business to Business Showcase, where Chamber members can promotetheir business to other Chamber members, cost-effectively. This showcase also promootes the Target 5 - Buy In! initiative.
Chamber Chat - Chamber Chat is a featured program on KDAO each Sunday morning that highlights timely community topics, Chamber programs and upcoming events.
Chamber Digest - Each month, the Chamber distributes the Chamber Digest, an informational newsletter. This newsletter highlights new members, reinvesting members, upcoming events, ribbon cuttings and news about Chamber programs and initiatives. It also features information about our affiliates: MEDIC and the MCVB.
Chamber News & Notes - This e-newsletter is an effective way to connect with our members and keep them up-to-date about upcoming activities, sponsorship opportunities and other exciting benefits of Chamber membership.
Information - The Chamber is a source of information for economic/business facts and figures, community data, relocation packets and Plan Room resources.
Membership List - The Chamber is happy to provide our membership list in the form of mailing labels or a database file for a nominal fee. Chamber members also have access to the Chamber's bulk mailing permit, free of charge.
New Member Orientation - These free orientations provide new Chamber members with a comprehensive overview of what the Chamber does, how the Chamber can help their business, while giving members the chance to get to know each other over breakfast or lunch.
Online Directory - All Chamber members receive a basic listing on the Chamber's online directory on the Chamber website, included with their membership. Each month, the Chamber website receives more than 130,000 hits, 23,000 visits and from 5,000 visitors seeking information about businesses in the Marshalltown area. As a Chamber member, you can choose to upgrade your basic listingin the online directory to generate more traffic to your website.
Referrals - The Chamber provides referrals of local businesses to the more than 12,000 community members, visitors and new residents who contact the Chamber annually, seeking information about the Marshalltown area.
Target 5 - Buy In! - Every year local businesses, institutions and geovernments spend nearly $1.2 billion in goods and services from out-of-area suppliers. Shifting just 5% of this spending to local businesses and service providers would have a significant impact in growing jobs and building businesses. To aid in this effort, the Chamber implemented Target 5 - Buy In!, a pro-active campaign designed to get businesses, institutions and governmental entities to shift 5% of mroe of the purchases made with out-of-county vendors to local suppliers. It's working - over 50 local businesses have made the commitment to Target 5 - they're buying in!
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
When you're looking for a way to give your business or organization greater exposure in the local business community and want to realize a return on your investment, look no further than the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber offers a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities, including advertising outlets, major programs and events, to fit your business needs and goals.
Ambassador Golf Outing - Investments begin at $60 for the annual Ambassador Golf Outing, held each August. Sponsorship opportunities include holes, major prizes, giveaways, tent and beverage cart sponsorships.
Annual Meeting - Each year the Chamber hosts an annual meeting for its members. Sponsorship opportunities for this event start at $250 and may include table sponsorship, award recognition and key note speaker support.
Business After Hours - Open your doors to Chamber members during this monthly event. Business After Hours sponsorship is $300 and includes an insert in the Chamber Digest and email reminders to all Chamber members with your company logo.
Business to Business Showcase - Held quarterly, this revamped version of the popular Business After Hours offers one Chamber member key sponsorship and other business partners support sponsorship opportunities. Key sponsorship is $500 and includes sponsor’s name and logo on all advertising and up to 25% of the exhibit space for display. Support sponsorships are $50 and allow a business an opportunity to display merchandise, brochures, giveaways and information during the event.
Educator Appreciation Breakfast - At the start of each school year, the Chamber invites teachers, staff and administrators to an appreciation breakfast. Key sponsorship available for $350. The key sponsor of this event is invited to speak during the breakfast. Table sponsorships begin at $50 and include business names on table top displays.
Meeting Notice & Refreshments - Prior to each Chamber committee, task force and board meeting, an email reminder is sent to all participants, which can be sponsored in conjunction with meeting refreshments for attendees. Sponsorship opportunities start at $150.
New Member Orientation - For a $250 investment, key sponsors are invited to attend this quarterly meeting and present information to new Chamber members about the importance of Chamber membership, their Chamber involvement and their business. The investment also includes sponsorship of food and refreshments for attendees.
Scholastic Banquet - A great way for Chamber members to enjoy the success of the next generation is to sponsor the annual Scholastic Banquet, held each May. Key sponsorship of this event is $350 and includes the business name and logo on all advertising and an opportunity to speak to the attendees as part of the banquet program. Student sponsorships are $30 and allow a business to sponsor one of the scholars to attend the banquet free of charge and present the scholar a small congratulatory gift.
Spring Home Show - One of the Chamber’s largest annual events is the Spring Home Show, held each March. Sponsorship opportunities include information booth, vendor booths, maps, and staging area, and begin at $240.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Chamber Digest Inserts - Using the Chamber Digest to advertise your upcoming event or promotion, or to simply educate the Chamber membership about your business and products is a cost-effective way to advertise. The Chamber Digest is printed monthly and flyer insert costs begin at $150.
Online Directory - The Chamber website is a great way to connect to your current and potential customers. Research shows over half of all professionals search the web when looking to relocate or find a business. Search for information on Marshalltown, Iowa and you’ll be directed to the Chamber’s website. By increasing your visibility on the Chamber website, you get your business information to over 5,000 online visitors each month!
All Chamber members receive a free basic listing on the Chamber website online directory. This listing includes your business name, representatives’ names, phone number and address.
Directory upgrades start at just $120 per year. Your online directory upgrade includes multiple category listings, searchable words, email and website links. You can also choose upgrades that include text and graphics. For more information, click here.
Website Page Sponsorships - Sponsorships for Chamber website pages start at $150 per month and include an online directory upgrade. For more information, click here.
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