Community Marketing | Networking Opportunities | Promotional Opportunities | Making Business Easier | Advocacy for Business
The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development works hard to provide valuable services you need to enhance your company’s profitability.
Our monthly newsletter, called the Outlook Business Journal, features news and events information from members and pertinent details about community happenings. Members can submit articles, photos, and calendar items to be published in the news pages. Members can also take advantage of advertising opportunities, or they can place a flyer into the mailing that reaches over 1200 professionals in the Great Bend area. To see archived editions of the Outlook Business Journal, click here.
This monthly service allows Chamber members to insert a letter-sized flyer into the Outlook Business Journal mailing. If the business supplies 1,250 copies of the flyer to the direct mailer by that month’s deadline, it will automatically be inserted into the packet for the postage fee of $80 which is billed automatically following the mailing.
Similar to the monthly newsletter, email Updates offer Chamber members a chance to showcase a particular event, news article, or promotion between the monthly mailings. This weekly newsletter features upcoming events, a listing of the week’s Thirsty Thursday shopping specials, and community news items submitted by members. If you would like to receive our email Update, simply provide your email address to a member of the Chamber staff.
Member businesses have the opportunity to place press releases on the News section of the Chamber web site. This service, which is free to members, can be utilized for promoting a new product or service, introducing new employees, or announcing an upcoming event. Members can also post events to our community calendar for free publicity. Additionally, The website also features a searchable membership directory that gives people a way to find our members online, regardless of whether they have a web site of their own.
Each year, the Chamber puts out a printed membership directory that serves as a handy, desktop resource for community demographics, highlights from the past year, contact information for local government, and much more. Most importantly, it is a reference tool for looking up other Chamber members by category, by alphabetical listing, or by a specific contact person. This directory is also available in a searchable, online format here on our website.
On the first Thursday of every month, the Chamber hosts a radio program on KVGB 1590 AM called ChamberConnect. During this half-hour program, we highlight different programs, events, and happenings throughout the year. The show is a great way for members to stay tuned in to the Chamber’s initiatives.
The Chamber staff and Ambassadors host ribbon cuttings for grand openings, expansions, or new members at no charge to the hosting business. During the ceremony, a photo will be taken that will then be showcased in the monthly Outlook Business Journal along with an article featuring that businesses’ news and the products/services they have to offer.
Members have the opportunity to host a Chamber Coffee, held each Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. Members pay only $25 to reserve their spot on our coffee schedule, and we take care of the rest. Chamber coffees draw between 40 and 60 people each week, and are a great opportunity for you to exclusively showcase your business.
As a member, you have the opportunity to host a Chamber Business After Hours event held at your business, usually from 5-7 p.m. on a weeknight. Business After Hours events are informal receptions that give businesses the opportunity to showcase their facilities, products, and services. For hosting a Business After Hours event, you receive free promotion in our e-mail Updates and Outlook Business Journal.
These events allow local individuals the chance to network with our state legislators directly. All Legislative Coffees are held at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum at 5944 10th Street and begin at 10 a.m. These events are sponsored by AT&T. Donuts and coffee are provided.
The Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet is held each winter, allowing business and community leaders an opportunity to gather, socialize and celebrate positive community efforts that have taken place throughout the previous year. More than 500 people typically attend the event, enjoying a formal dinner followed by the much-anticipated Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year award announcements. The evening is then concluded with live entertainment and dancing.
Held annually each summer, this networking opportunity is a fun way to link business with pleasure. Members are encouraged to sponsor and participate in a growing and fun-filled event that typically draws more than 100 entries each year representing a wide-range of businesses. The tournament memorializes former Chamber President and CEO Gary Gore. Contact the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development if you are interested in sponsoring the next event tournament.
Over 140 members currently participate in the Chamber’s gift certificate program, which encourages local money to stay local to benefit Chamber members who participate. More than $150,000 in gift certificates are issued each year. As a member, you can enroll in this program at no charge, but there is a 3% service fee deducted at the time of redemption to cover the expenses of the program.
Want to do a direct mailing of your own? We can help. Members can bring in a box of mailing labels, and the Chamber staff will print off contact information for all the other Chamber members on those labels at no charge.
This state-of-the-art meeting space can accommodate up to 50 people. Amenities include a 54” flat screen television for digital projection of PowerPoint presentations, picture slide shows, or other online materials; a buffet style serving area; private telephone for conference calls; ample parking space in a free lot; nearby kitchenette; and climate control. To see additional photos or rental information, click here. To see more meeting spaces available for rent in Great Bend, visit the Convention & Visitors Bureau website by click here.
Members have the opportunity to utilize the Chamber's bulk mailing postage stamp for mass mailings. After acquiring the proper paperwork from the Post Office, members can come into the Chamber to borrow our bulk mailing stamp to receive a discounted postage rate.
The Chamber has dozens of informational resources for businesses to take advantage of, including city maps, sales tax information, church directories, rental contacts listings, etc. Member businesses also have the opportunity to distribute informational brochures from the Chamber office.
The Chamber gathers and provides access to architectural plans for Plan Room members for an annual fee of $50. Members may review plans at the Chamber office or check them out for 24-hour review offsite. The Plan Room is a money-saver for those who would otherwise secure their own set of plans, and it's also a convenient time-saving tool for businesses looking to submit bids. Available plans are listed on our web site, or members can call for an update of available plans. Members are encouraged to request plans from the Chamber by providing the name of the architect and their telephone number, as well as the project number. Every attempt will be made by the Chamber, then, to secure those plans. Click here to view available plans.
Kansas Drug Card is the free statewide prescription assistance program available to all Kansas residents. The program was launched to help uninsured and underinsured Kansas residents with their prescription medication costs. This is an excellent resource for anyone who may not currently have prescription health care benefits or someone who has insurance but the drug they need is not covered/formulary. The Kansas Drug Card allows people to still get the medicine they need but at a reduced cost. This is a great FREE resource for all Chamber members employees that don’t have prescription coverage, part time employees, friends and family
Many businesses who have employment opportunities want to see what the applicant pool is like before they post their position publically. The Chamber keeps a library of jobseeker resumes that our members can browse anytime during normal business hours. Resumes are sorted by the date they are received, and are kept on hand for at least 90 days from the time we receive them. To set up a time to browse the Resume Library, email us at jobs@greatbend.org
Government action related to such issues as taxation, education, transportation, regulation, and public safety can significantly affect the health of your business. Each year the Chamber develops a legislative agenda that supports the business community. The Chamber develops and recommends policy, tracks information on legislative issues, and builds relationships with key public officials.