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WHAT WE DO

The Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce is working hard to help your company – and our community – succeed.  We support our members and promote the area through marketing initiatives, special programs to reduce the costs of doing business, governmental advocacy and economic development efforts.

We’re consistently moving forward with another crowded agenda – promoting our Welcome Centers, launching the new website that you’re currently exploring, and upgrading our financial management system, while continuing to market Nappanee as a great place to live, visit, shop, and do business.

Business Blueprint

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)