Accomplishments and Activities
Click on one of the categories below to discover a partial list of Chamber accomplishments and ongoing activities.

Benefits

• Established a Committee Structure to address community issues:
  • Legislative
  • Operations
  • Education
  • Membership
  • Retail Marketing
  • Events
• Provide a Chamber Health Insurance program to members at a discounted rate

Networking

• Conduct Annual Wakarusa-Nappanee Golf Outing to raise funding for community scholarships
• Facilitate an Ambassador Committee to host Chamber activities.
• Provide “After Hours” networking opportunities for Chamber members.

Marketing

• Establishing a new Welcome Center
• Organized a second Visitors Center at the Nappanee Public Library to serve visitors
• Creating a new Chamber Website to promote our community and members
• Develop a Shingle Shop Brochure advertising countryside businesses
• Established a Community Brand (“Embrace The Pace”) to encourage cooperative marketing
• Marketing industrial sites to new and expanding businesses
• Mail relocation information packets to prospective residents and businesses.
• Issue press releases on behalf of Chamber member businesses.
• Encourage and promote the shopping in Nappanee by the sale of Nappanee Retail Gift Certificates
• Publish a monthly newsletter to communicate Chamber activities
• Provide membership database to assist members with marketing campaigns
• Provide referrals to member businesses
• Maintain a Sister-City program between Nappanee, IN and Napanee, Ontario, Canada
• Provides assistance with Grand Openings and Groundbreaking Ceremonies

Education

• Present a series of Business Seminars
• Provide scholarship funding to local students majoring in business
• Provide guidance and leadership to Wa-Nee Continuing Education program
• Provide leadership for the Nappanee and the Elkhart County Leadership Academies.
• Provide small business training through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Legislative

• Host Town Hall Meeting with State Legislators

Economic Development

• Encouraged a $2 million downtown improvement project
• Organized a Downtown Business Improvement District
• Work with the City of Nappanee to provide business incentives to drive economic development activities
• Participating in implementation of the City’s Master Plan
• Provide leadership to a successful Nappanee Apple Festival
• Provides support to City of Nappanee when applying for community development grants
• Provide service to the business community through small business development center
• Encourage business owners to participate in the Building Facade Improvement Program (NIFTY)

Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce • 302 West Market Street • Nappanee, IN 46550 • (574) 773-7812 • copyright 2007