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| May 14 | National Issues Conference in Washington, D.C. |
| May 15 | Ribbon Cutting for Praise Unlimited Weddings |
| May 21 | Small Business Conference hosted by Piedmont Tech and the Chamber |
| May 21 | Small Business Conference ''Taking Your Business to New Heights'' |
| May 22 | Chamber Membership Luncheon Meeting sponsored : Packaging Corporation of America |
| May 22 | Business After Hours sponsored by Orde's of England |
| May 23 | Nonprofit Workshop |
| May 29 | Fundraising Hazards Workshop |
| May 29 | SC Senate-District 10 Candidate Forum |
| May 30 | Member Reception |
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Greenwood Area Chamber Membership Directory: This publication, the buyers’ guide to the local business community, lists Chamber members both alphabetically and by category. It provides member businesses broad exposure at no cost above their Chamber membership investment.
Greenwood Community Guide Magazine: A full color, quality of life guide that provides readers with data such as Greenwood facts and figures, information on real estate, health care, education, recreation, cultural activities, worship, business & industry, and newcomer information-community contacts. It is distributed to Chamber members, large employers in the area, welcome packets, hotels, realtors, doctors and dentists offices, hospitals, economic development corporations and universities, as well as individuals and businesses interested in relocating to the area. Over 10,000 copies are printed and distributed throughout the region and beyond. Only Chamber member businesses are offered advertising space in this unique publication.
Internet Exposure: (www.greenwoodscchamber.org) The Chamber website is the most highly accessed information source for Greenwood area business and community information. It features a vast scope of data including community and chamber programs and calendars, government information, area maps, relocation, tourism, economic development data, and multiple links to a wide range of resources and websites. All Chamber members are listed for each selected category in the searchable business directory and may increase their visibility by adding business descriptions and/or special “Hot Deal” offers, maps to their businesses, logos/photos, or hyperlinks from the Chamber site to their own website. This provides members extensive worldwide exposure and is an excellent source of referrals.
Chamber Newsletter: Five times each year, the Chamber newsletter Networx, is mailed to over 1,200 leading business professionals. In addition, Networx is distributed in The Index Journal, Greenwood’s local newspaper, to its circulation of 17,000. It features Chamber and community information, plus event updates, member information, ribbon cutting photos and much more. New members are recognized with articles and/or photos, and all members can promote their businesses through free articles in the “Business Briefs” section. Broad exposure display advertising is available in Networx for a reduced, Chamber member rate.
Newsletter Inserts: Chamber members can have a full page advertisement flyer distributed to 1,200 of their best prospects in the area for $150 (new members utilizing the service for the first time receive a discounted rate of $100). The Chamber has the best mailing list in the area for business-to-business marketing and does all of the work - a savings to members of over $300 in postage alone!
SC Festival of Flowers Publication: This souvenir magazine, the complete guide to the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, is distributed to over 10,000 residents and visitors during the Festival and contains advertising that is greatly discounted for Chamber members.
Ribbon Cuttings: These ceremonies, which increase the visibility of new businesses, business expansions, relocations or businesses under new ownership, are provided exclusively to Chamber members. Event publicity (photo with mini-article) is included in the Chamber newsletter and is also shared with other area publications.
Member Sponsorships: High visibility and advertising value is offered to members who sponsor a Chamber event, such as Business After Hours, Business Before Hours, Annual Meeting, Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament, Small Business Conference, Elected Officials’ meetings, SC Half Triathlon and Wellness Celebration. Pre-event publicity and mailings offer broad advertising exposure for nominal sponsorship fees.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Business After Hours: Held each month at different Chamber member firms, these casual networking events attract large crowds who have found these get-togethers to be a wonderful resource for making contact with both current and prospective clients. As a general rule, these popular events are held the fourth Thursday of each month from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., except in the case of holidays or other conflicts.
Business Before Hours: Fun speed-networking format allows chamber members to meet new contacts and enjoy presentations by high-quality speakers. Every other month, business leaders gather in the Dawson Room at Lander University’s Grier Student Center Cafeteria for this 7:45 a.m. breakfast event. A lively and informative way to start your day!
Chamber Membership Meetings: Beginning in January, monthly membership meetings will be held at member Chamber locations, offering members a chance to interact with others from the business community while hearing interesting presenters. This program provides the opportunity for extensive information sharing on topics of critical interest to the community.
New Member Orientation: These special meetings are held every other month to welcome all new Chamber members, allow them to introduce themselves, promote their business, and network extensively. A review of all the Chamber member benefits reinforces and explains to all in attendance how to best utilize Chamber membership to the fullest.
Women’s Leadership Council: A newly launched Chamber program, this monthly breakfast meetings targets the needs of women in business. The central focus of WLC is promoting diversity, increasing economic growth, building lasting business relationships, and support and offering career strategies for women.
Committees: Volunteer opportunities abound at the Chamber! Members may participate in any of our active, dynamic committees, covering a wide range of interests: Communications & Public Relations, Education, Festival of Flowers, Governmental Relations, Leadership Greenwood, Membership Development, Neighborhood Development, Small Business, Special Events (includes Annual Meeting, Golf Tournament, Triathlon and new March 2008 social event) and Workforce Development. Not only does Chamber committee work provide members with an opportunity to actively participate in Chamber programming, it also affords members an organized and effective way of giving back to their community.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Health Insurance: Chamber members are given the opportunity to access Blue Cross Blue Shield’s True Blue, a health plan for businesses with 2 or more employees. The plan is more comprehensive and less expensive than individual/non group plans, offering, for example, low cost office visit co-payments, prescription drug coverage and optional dental coverage.
Business Referral Service: Each year thousands of referrals to Chamber business members are given in response to inquiries from tourists, students and to those relocating to our area. Only members are referred and member information is included in relocation inquiries.
Member Gallery / Promotional Displays: Only members can display cards and promotional materials at the Chamber office’s Member Gallery – providing annual exposure to thousands of visitors, new residents, students and others.
Membership Mailing Labels: Members may obtain complete direct mailing information for over 1,200 representatives of key businesses, allowing them to offer their company’s products and services to new business prospects for a fee of $55 / set.
Chamber Checks: This is a program offering gift certificates that are redeemable at full face value, at a wide variety of Chamber member businesses. It assists members in increasing their customer base and promotes patronage of Greenwood Area Chamber members – and it provides advertising exposure to member participants! A list of participating businesses is provided upon purchase. The result of this program is a direct economic impact on local economy - an average or $65,000 in Chamber checks is spent annually at local Chamber businesses.
Small Business Seminars & Resources: Because the growth of small business is a strategic focus of the Chamber, throughout the year programs such as Small Business Week, Small Business of the Year Awards and the Small Business Conference are held. The Small Business Conference includes seminars that provide “how to” information on subjects that impact business. The Chamber also works with local SCORE counselors who can advise new business owners in a variety of issues and practices. Also, information resources are available at the Chamber - examples include community demographics, area and local phone directories, a list of clubs and organizations, maps, and many useful SBA publications.
Chamber Meeting Room / Notary Public Service: Greenwood Area Chamber members may reserve the use of the Chamber’s meeting room at no charge, as well as have documents notarized with no fee.
Employment Listings: Greenwood Area Chamber members have another resource for employment recruitment listings as job postings are offered for free on the Chamber’s website.
Tax Deductibility: Membership in the Chamber is deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense.
Certificate of Origin: The Chamber can prepare these necessary forms for those who ship their goods and products outside of the United States.
BUSINESS ADVOCACY
The Chamber is a champion for the Greenwood business community in county, state, and national issues, and represents their interests in problem solving, promoting economic development, and enhancing the quality of life, and more. The Chamber also works closely with city and county officials on many community issues and projects.
As part of its advocacy work, the Greenwood Chamber has:
The Chamber sponsors several advocacy awareness programs each year, including:
SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
The Chamber sponsors several other special programs and key events each year, including:
