The purpose of the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce is to cultivate a strong business and industrial environment in the Kilgore area, creating a vibrant place to live, learn, work & play.
GOALS
The following are the list of goal areas developed by the participants throughout the Board of Directors and Staff retreat in October of 2018. The goal areas are divided into four main sections, in no particular order:
- To Align Resources with Our Mission
- To Increase Membership Sales and Retention by Providing Quality Benefits and Services
- To Reduce Unoccupied Business Space in Kilgore
- To Facilitate Partnerships Between Business, Industry, Government Entities, Kilgore KISD, and Kilgore College
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.
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 Luncheons
Meeting fellow Chamber members over lunch provides you time to network with other business people and a presentation and discussion on topics of interest to the business community. BizConnect Luncheon is held quarterly.
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 arrive 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.
Leading Edge
This education series is designed to provide business topics to the Kilgore business community that will assist them with enhancing their business practices. Promote your business to key business leaders and employees by sponsoring one seminar or all. Held when a topic is relevant and we have invested participants.
East Texas Coalition
In cooperation with Tyler, Longview and other East TX Chambers, Kilgore business men 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, 2021.
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.
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 on a regular basis and lists the members both alphabetically and categorically. The directory provides information on the Chamber of Commerce, 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.
Community Calendar & Gun Raffle
In the past, the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce has published a yearly community calendar and we are bringing the Calendar back in 2023. We will also be having a Gun Raffle within the Community Calendar. Click Here for details on how to purchase an ad or to purchase a gun raffle calendar.
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 700 chamber members, employees and partners at a cost of only $65. 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 content or layout of your ad. It must come complete in the image sent.