The 2023-2025 Strategic Plan outlines our new purpose statement, our Core Competencies, as well as our goals.
The purpose of the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote a strong business and industrial environment in the Kilgore area.
CORE COMPETENCIES
We ADVOCATE on behalf of our business community and educate business leaders regarding public policy issues relevant to their businesses.
We ACCELERATE the economic prosperity by focusing on the unique mix of people, places, and products that define the Kilgore, Texas area.
We provide opportunities for our members and community partners to COLLABORATE to strengthen the Kilgore economy.
We strive to EDUCATE our members with our BizConnect series, advocacy efforts, and the member to member opportunities.
We INNOVATE each year in order to keep our members active and interested in our programs and events.
GOALS
Advocate for Business – Develop advocacy that supports business and continue to grow and strengthen the East Texas Coalition.
Membership Innovation & Growth – Create a strong membership network including small and industrial businesses
Cultivate Talent – Talent that meets the needs of employers
MEMBER BENEFITS
MONEY SAVING PROGRAMS
Member 2 Member – Keep It In Kilgore
E-Mail Marketing with Constant Contact
Our Chamber has partnered with Constant Contact, the leader in online marketing for small businesses like yours. Constant Contact brings you a great way to connect and engage with your customers and since we are partnered with them all of our members can get 25% off of their accounts.
COMMITTEES
Ambassadors
The Ambassador Committee is one of the most important programs that the Chamber has to offer. What is an Ambassador? An Ambassador is a volunteer for the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce that represents their own companies while also promoting the Chamber events, and programs, as well as new and existing Chamber members. Ambassadors attend groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, Morning Brews, and Growth Group. They help register and greet members at Chamber-sponsored events.
Education Committee
The Education Committee addresses educational issues, topics, and initiatives relevant to all levels of education in our community. Creates partnerships between educational institutions and community-based organizations and businesses. The committee also develops programs to provide local students access to specific careers as well as highlighting students who choose the technical certificate path with a “Texas Career Signing Day” program. The Committee also assists with programming days for the E4 Leadership program and will be developing scholarships in the near future.
EMT’s Committee
The EMT’s (Events & Marketing Team) assists the Chamber staff with topics for BizConnect luncheons, themes for events, and marketing ideas for all other programs and events.
Government Affairs Committee
The Government Affairs committee focuses on local, state, and national issues; plans Chamber legislative trips to Austin and Washington DC with the East Texas Coalition, ensures Chamber presence at local council meetings, provide forums for meet the candidate during elections, and coordinates programs/luncheons with local legislators. The Government Affairs Committee puts together a “Legislative Agenda” each year prior to the Texas Legislative Assembly, we also take positions on different issues that pertain to the betterment of the Kilgore, Texas area.
Transportation
The Transportation Committee works closely with the City of Kilgore and TxDOT to make sure that our area’s infrastructure is represented. They work to make sure that our area roads, railroads, airways, and other modes of transportation are represented in local, state, and federal government arenas.
SERVICES
Chairman & President’s Star
The Chamber provides exclusive logo/name recognition on the front page of our website as well as monthly newsletter (print and digital). Signage is also included at all events, social media, community guides, and other publications when feasible. The Chairman’s Star is limited to 15 area member businesses, an individual business e-blast/social media post/and press release when you join. Members of both will be invited to one privately hosted meeting per year with other Chairman & President Star members. Contact Jill McCartney White at 903.984.5022.
Ribbon Cutting
The Chamber provides ribbon cutting events for members who want to introduce their business as a new member, new the area, new promotion, newly renovated or relocated, to celebrate a milestone business achievement or anniversary. The event is at the member’s place of business and attendance varies from 10 to 20 people.
Business Referrals
The Chamber office receives hundreds of requests each year for recommendations on goods and services provided in the Kilgore, Texas area. We ONLY refer names of Chamber members.
Import/Export Resource Center
The Chamber office provides Certificates of Origin at no charge to members for those businesses exporting merchandise. $35 per page charge to Non – members.
Internet Listing
The Chamber is host to the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce website www.kilgorechamber.com. As a Chamber member, you are provided with two free listings in the alphabetical directory and the classified directory. We can provide a link to your home page at no charge. We also provide additional category listings for $25.00 each. We also have banner ads on the website. For information and pricing, call the office.
Mailing List
The Chamber’s membership list, consisting of approximately 300 business professionals in the Kilgore, Texas area, is available for free in an excel spreadsheet to our new members upon joining. If another list is requested the price is $25.00 for members and $75.00 for non-members. No e-mail addresses will be given out.
Meeting Room
The Chamber’s conference room, which can accommodate up to 15 people, is available to members during business hours at no charge. For availability of dates and reservations, please contact the Chamber staff. Any catering requirements or equipment needs are the responsibility of the member.
New Resident Packet
The Chamber provides free informational packets to those interested in locating to the Kilgore, Texas area.
EVENTS
Annual Dinner/Star Gala
The Star Gala event concludes our annual year with A Year in Review; Business Connection Reception; Recognition & Induction of Board of Directors; and the highlight of the evening is the STAR AWARDS ceremony recognizing individuals and businesses of excellence including the Small Business of the Year; Large Business of the Year; Chamber Ambassador of the Year; and Citizen of the Year. Three outstanding Women in Business awarded earlier this year will also be recognized at the Gala.
Women in Business
An evening event celebrating Women in Business! The Black Gold Texas Tea event is named to embrace our oil history, however the event pays honor to outstanding women in Business including the recipients of – The Rising Star, The Shining Star and the Lifetime Star Achievement Award. In addition, the event features an evening of networking enjoyment including entertainment, vendors, purse raffle and dinner.
BizConnect Luncheon Series
Meeting fellow Chamber members over lunch provides you time to network with other business people along with a presentation and discussion on topics of interest to the business community. We also host 3 special BizConnect luncheons, State of the Community, Administrative Professionals Day, and Capital Connect for a total of 6-8 luncheons a year.
Morning Brew
For those who like to get an early start to their networking, Morning Brew provides Chamber investors networking opportunities each month over coffee! Held the 3rd Thursday of each month from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at various member locations, your company receives maximum exposure 12 times a year with business members, potential new members and guests.
Growth Group
Join us every 4th Monday for Growth Group! Showcase your business by joining us for a little lunch and some lively conversation at our Growth Group. The goal of Growth Group is to build personal and professional relationships with other members while exchanging leads, business tips, growing your prospect list, and, most importantly, referrals. Attendees at these dynamic meetings introduce themselves and their business with a 30-second commercial. Maximize your networking by arriving early or staying after the meeting to enjoy open networking with the local business professionals who attend each month. The current location for this event is at one of our proud members, The Back Porch.
Business After Hours
Held at the end of the workday, this event provides informal networking for Chamber Members. This event is hosted at a member business from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., providing a unique opportunity for your business to reach potential customers and show off your location. This is a great sponsorship for any business looking to attract people to your location, with an opportunity to provide tours of your facility, give away fun prizes, and connect with attendees. This is a quality way to showcase your business to area Chamber members as well as business leaders in our community.
East Texas Delegation
In cooperation with Tyler, Longview, and other East TX Chambers, Kilgore businessmen and women come together for a 2 -day event to meet with state legislators and representatives to discuss issues and legislation relative to our community. Held every other year. Next event is February, 2025.
Voter Education/Candidate Forum
The Chamber partners with The Kilgore News Herald to conduct a candidate forum for the citizens of the City of Kilgore. Normally held on a Sunday prior to the start of early voting.
Plug Your Business In
This is our member orientation event where we invite you to Plug into the Chamber and all we have to offer. We open this event to all Chamber members new and old, as you may have new staff or just need a refresher. These events allow individuals to acquaint themselves with Chamber staff and learn about the benefits of Chamber membership. Held quarterly.
MixPo
The MixPo is a combination event that brings together an Expo and a Mixer. This event is a mini expo/mini mixer where our members can network, meet new contacts, and grow their brand in the Kilgore area.
Other Annual Events
- Spring golf outing
- Fall Golf Classic
- Kilgore Annual Christmas Parade
- A Very Derrick Christmas
PUBLICATIONS
Chamber Connection
We currently publish a monthly newsletter in coordination with the Kilgore New Herald. It is printed and inserted into their newspaper and delivered to the subscribers. We then e-mail the digital version to our members and other folks who are signed up to receive our information via e-mail.
Membership Directory
The Chamber’s membership directory is published every other year and lists members both alphabetically and categorically. The directory provides information on the Chamber, as well as information on why Kilgore, Tx is the best place to Live, Learn, Work, and Play. The book is used as a reference guide and manual by members, partners, and our community. It is Free to Chamber members. We not only print this directory, we also place it on our website which includes links to all of the advertisers’ businesses. Check It Out!
ADVERTISING
Website Banner Advertisement
The Chamber website has banner ads available to members only. The rates are as follows: 3 months $100.00, 6 months $175.00, and one year is $300.00. The specifications on the ads are 1021 pixels wide x 234 pixels tall @ 72dpi. Please provide an ad that is ready to be dropped into place.
Chamber Publications
As a Chamber of Commerce, we produce different publications to be distributed on a regular basis to the members and community. These publications are produced professionally with the ads being sold by the specific business developing the publication. The Kilgore News Herald produces are Chamber Connection newsletter and when a directory is published you will be contacted by the Chamber office when ads go on sale.
E-Mail Blast
Distributed to over 1100 emails including chamber members, employees, and partners at a cost of only $75. Suggested image file size is a jpeg, png, or pdf format. As a new member, we offer the first E-mail blast for free. The Chamber is not responsible for the content or layout of your ad. It must come complete in the image sent.