Greetings and happy February to our valued chamber members.

The chamber has been busy working on several initiatives that will go a long way in adding value to one’s membership and I’m excited to provide a quick update on some of these initiatives.

Membership Directory: In just a couple of weeks, chamber members will receive their copy of the 2020-2021 membership directory, an annual publication from the chamber that provides an overview of Kent County and lists each member and their contact information. This is a primary fundraiser for the chamber and, despite COVID-19, we nearly matched our advertising revenues from the last directory. I’d like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to our members who purchased ads this year. The directory went through a dramatic redesign thanks to the team at Mullin/Ashley and I’m very excited for the membership to see the new changes. With each subsequent year, we will work to make this a better resource for our members and the community.

Community Excellence Awards: Due to change in leadership and the onset of COVID-19, the Kent Chamber was unable to hold its annual Excellence in Business Award Gala and recognize outstanding businesses in our community. We will be revamping the program this year and emphasizing the excellence a business, nonprofit, or community organization is able to demonstrate in making a positive difference here in our community. This will allow us to recognize and award a broader range of organizations. Expect more information about submitting a nomination and sponsorship opportunities soon.

Member Benefits Card: We will be reactivating and revamping a B2B program that will allow members to realize savings at participating member businesses. Quickly and easily, members will be able to identify participating businesses of the program and start saving on popular goods and services. Prior to the official launch, we need a select number of members to beta-test this program. Interested in learning more and participating in the beta? Email me at sshoge@kentchamber.org.

These are just a few exciting things we have in store. We are looking forward to enhancing the value of your membership.

In service,