Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce area’s fastest growing in 2019

The Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce was one of the fastest growing chambers of commerce in southwest Missouri in 2019. Last year, the chamber added 62 new businesses to its members roster, which increased the total number of chamber members to 201. In the article “The Rise, Fall of Chamber Membership” by Mike Cullinan, which appeared in the Springfield Business Journal in January, it was reported that the Mt. Vernon chamber’s growth was “the most notable year-over-year change” with an increase in membership by 32-percent from 2018 to 2019.
The growth can be measured in more than membership. Pam Dudley, chamber director, stated in the article that the chamber’s annual budget is $120,000, twice the amount it was in 2015, and the number of the chamber’s Facebook followers was 400 when she was first hired, now it’s 2,300.
“It’s been an incredible ride, that’s for sure,” Dudley stated in the article.
In a more recent interview, Dudley credited the chamber’s growth to its social media presence and other offerings.
“We have had a boost by offering health insurance plans to members only and we have grown our social media presence offering programs like ‘We Have a Member for That,’” she said. “Our website also offers a business directory listing members and direct links to them with a single click.”
Membership has its privileges
Dudley also said there are a number of benefits that come with chamber membership.
“Ribbon cuttings are a big part of what we do for new businesses,” she said. “We offer the health insurance for small business owners with two to 50 employees, annual events like the Business Expo and constant recognition for members through social media and our website. Before the statewide shutdown, our board would (also) go out to eat at a local eatery, pay and tip with two-dollar bills and invite the public to join us through Facebook. We called it Cash Mob Twos-day.”
 However, chamber benefits go beyond drawing attention to the member businesses. Dudley said membership increases the likelihood that a customer will go to a business for goods or services. Also, she said, the chamber represents its members at all levels of government.
“Customers look to a chamber to determine the best companies to choose for a product or service,” she said. “It definitely provides a boost to credibility for a legitimate business to say they are a chamber member. We also advocate at local, state and federal legislative levels to do what is best for our business community. The more members we have, the better plan we can construct to make an informed presentation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber has been called on to update elected officials on what is happening in our neighborhood.”
Dudley said the chamber also helps the community at large.
“Chambers have a long history of supporting business in a community,” she said. “By that, we impact lives of not only the company but the workforce, support local schools with programs like Adopt-A-Class and scholarship, and encourage large and small businesses to choose Mt. Vernon for a location. Our chamber also has the unique honor of hosting Apple Butter Makin’ Days for the last 53 years which draws nearly 100,000 people to spend their money in our town each fall.”
To meet the needs of member businesses and the community, Dudley said the chamber will remain flexible and is always open to new ideas.
“As a non-profit member organization, we count on growing our membership to continue our mission,” she said. “We know chamber membership isn’t for everyone but we try to keep it affordable and provide timely information along with innovative options for members. We welcome member suggestions and the volunteer board of directors is ready to listen to new ideas in an effort to grow as the business community needs us.”
The Mt. Vernon Mo Area Chamber of Commerce has membership options, ranging in cost from $40 to $4,000. For more information, go online to their website at www.mtvchamber.com or call (417)466-7654.