PRINCETON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GREW THE CHAMBER WITH THE ADDITION OF 30 NEW MEMBERS - WE ARE NOW 330 MEMBERS STRONG!;HOSTED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CHAMBER CLASSIC TO DATE, RAISING A PHENOMENAL $23,295.00 TO FUND OUR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM, AND AWARDED GRANTS TO 4 DESERVING CHAMBER MEMBERS;REVAMPED AND ADD NEW INFORMATION TO OUR ANNUAL CHAMBER & COMMUNITY GUIDE INCLUDING THE ENTIRE 2025 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CHAMBER AND COMMUNITY, THE AMTRAK SCHEDULE, AS WELL AS LOCAL CENSUS DATA;CREATED THE PRINCETON SHOPPING AND DINING MAP. A PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH CITY OF PRINCETON TOURISM;ACCEPTED CREDIT CARDS AS A FORM OF PAYMENT FOR GIFT CARD PURCHASES, MEMBERSHIP DUES, SPONSORSHIPS, ETC. WITH NO FEE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER OR MEMBER;HOSTED THE 10TH ANNUAL SALUTE TO AG BREAKFAST AND AWARD 4 SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING BUREAU COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ARE ALL PURSUING A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE;CONTINUE TO OFFER MANY NETWORKING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR MEMBERS, INCLUDING: BUSINESS AFTER HOURS, MORNING MINGLES, AND LUNCH & LEARNS;ORGANIZED AND PROMOTED 7 DIFFERENT SHOP SMALL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT OUR RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS BY ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS ALIKE TO SHOP SMALL WHILE ALSO EDUCATING ON THE WAYS THIS HELPS BOOST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY;CONTINUED TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AREA CHAMBERS AND PRESENT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS THAT ALLOW OUR COMBINED MEMBERSHIPS AMAZING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES;CONDUCTED THE 3RD ANNUAL CAREER, JOB & VOLUNTEER FAIR WITH OVER 60 BUSINESSES, COLLEGES, AND ORGANIZATIONS ATTENDING WITH AN INVITATION EXTENDED TO PRINCETON AND ALL BUREAU COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS, PRINCETON'S 8TH GRADE CLASS, PCA AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF OPENING THE EVENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; THIS PAST YEAR'S EVENT SAW OVER 600 STUDENTS;CONTINUED TO COORDINATE AND PROMOTE THE EVER SO POPULAR LUNCH IN THE PARK WHICH SUPPORTS OUR MANY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO IN RETURN GENEROUSLY GIVE THEIR PROCEEDS BACK TO WORTHY COMMUNITY CAUSES;HELPED TO SUPPORT, GROW, AND PROMOTE THE PRINCETON FARMERS MARKET;CONTINUED TO ORGANIZE AND BRING BACK THOSE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERPOTS TO MAIN STREET EACH SPRING;COORDINATED AND HOSTED PRINCETON'S ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION WITH THE PRINCETON PARK DISTRICT;PARTNERED WITH THE BUREAU COUNTY HISTORY CENTER TO CREATE A COMMEMORATIVE RED COVERED BRIDGE BOOKLET;HOSTED THE ANNUAL 9/11 REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WITH HELP FROM THE PRINCETON MOOSE LODGE AND PRINCETON VETERANS GROUP;CONTINUED A VERY SUCCESSFUL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS LIGHT DRIVE THRU EVENT WITH THE BUREAU COUNTY FAIR WHICH SAW NEARLY 2,000 CARS THIS PAST HOLIDAY SEASON WITH MANY VISITORS JOINING US FROM OUTSIDE OF THE PRINCETON AREA;ORGANIZED AND HOSTED OTHER FUN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS MONSTER MASH BALLOON BASH AND THE ANNUAL SCARECROW COMPETITION, HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST, CHRISTMAS WALK WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST, AND LIGHT UP PRINCETON;AS ALWAYS, CONTINUED OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT AND SHRIMPFEST WITH THE PRINCETON ROTARY CLUB, BEEF & AG DAYS WITH THE BUREAU COUNTY CATTLEMEN, Z TOUR & BIKE FEST, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WITH THE PRINCETON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE BUREAU COUNTY HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL, THE HALLOWEEN PARADE AND HAUNT YOUR HOME COMPETITION WITH THE BUREAU COUNTY FAIR, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AND SANTA'S WORKSHOP WITH THE PRINCETON LIONS CLUB, AS WELL AS CONTINUE THE INITIATIVE OF THE BUREAU COUNTY SENIOR CENTER AND DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY PRINCETON, AND SO MUCH MORE!!! MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING HAS ACCESS TO OUR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM;MEMBERS HAD ACCESS TO OUR CHAMBER E-BLAST PROGRAM WITH OVER 800 SUBSCRIBED E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND OVER 425 E-BLASTS SENT THROUGHOUT 2024;BUSINESS REFERRALS, LISTINGS ON OUR CHAMBER WEBSITE, AND SPOTLIGHTED WITHIN OUR ANNUALLY PRINTED CHAMBER & COMMUNITY GUIDE;CHAMBER GIFT CARD PROGRAM ($42,540.00 WORTH OF GIFT CARDS SOLD IN 2024 - THIS MONEY STAYS LOCAL AND BOOSTS OUR ECONOMY!);MANY EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WERE OFFERED TO OUR MEMBERSHIP THROUGHOUT 2024;AS A NEW MEMBER, THE ABILITY TO ATTEND OUR BI-ANNUAL NEW MEMBER SHOWCASE, OFFERED IN THE SPRING AND FALL, TO INTRODUCE AND HIGHLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION TO OTHER CHAMBER MEMBERS. THANK YOU TO HEARTLAND BANK FOR MAKING THESE EVENTS POSSIBLE!;MARKETED MEMBERSHIP THROUGH USE OF MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS, NEWSPAPER, RADIO ADS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE CHAMBER'S FACEBOOK PAGE IS VERY ACTIVE WITH 7,762 FOLLOWERS!