Member Benefits
Visibility, Promotion & Referrals
Ribbon Cutting: A ribbon cutting celebration includes the presentation of Chamber Member plaque and Business Card wallet. A photo and write-up will be submitted to local media. To schedule your ribbon cutting contact the Chamber at 972-542-0163.
Ground Breaking/Grand Opening - Open to Current and New Members to celebrate a ground breaking, new office location, or grand opening. Publicity same as ribbon cutting.
Website: One listing in the category of your choice is included with your membership and will be posted in our online directory at www.mckinneychamber.com. Additional category listings may be added for $25. Website banner advertising may also be purchased.
Link from Company Website to Chamber Website – A direct link from the Chamber’s site with 4,000 hits per month from prospective clients/residents
Chamber Publications: No other Chamber of Commerce in Texas publishes as many in-house publications as we do. For more information about publications, contact Peggy at 972-542-0165 or via e-mail at psmolen@mckinneychamber.com
-- Chamber Business Focus: Chamber of Commerce’s monthly E-Newsletter.
-- McKinney Magazine: Ranked as the #1 magazine in Collin County, it reaches more than 150,000 readers in each of its ten issues and was voted the Most Read Magazine in the McKinney Area.
Annual Referral and Relocation Guide: Complimentary listing in 2 sections including alpha, category and contact name. Over 40,000 of these glossy publications are direct-mailed to every residence and business in McKinney, and are distributed to prospective new residents who request information from the Chamber. They are also included in the New Resident Welcome Bags. Discounted ad rates available to members.
New Resident Welcome Bags:
The Chamber distributes 100 Welcome Bags monthly to new McKinney residents. They are delivered by IESI when new service is initiated. Chamber members may include brochures or flyers in these bags for $5/month.
Business Visibility, Promotion & Referrals
Event Sponsorships: The Chamber holds many events each year, ranging from community-wide celebrations to educational programs and political forums. As an event sponsor, you receive promotion in our collateral materials and publications, plus premium exposure at the event.
Member Mailing List: Member mailing list available in email or on disk at a cost of $420. Included in some investment levels.
Business referrals: Each month the Chamber of Commerce receives 1,000 phone calls and 300 visitors requesting information about area businesses. As a member-funded organization, our policy is to give out information only for Chamber member businesses.
Free Event Listing in Community Calendar: Chamber Members may post their events on the online calendar by requesting a username and password.
Use of Chamber Member logo in company advertising – enhance the professional image of your ad by utilizing “Chamber Member” logo in print/website advertising
Newcomer mailing list - Monthly listing of new residents, based on deed transactions, approx 150/month. $20 per month for members.
Business branding through Chamber event or program sponsorships – Sponsorship opportunities offer members Low cost marketing, professional positioning, year-long exposure, opportunity to increase sales
Money-saving benefits for members only
The Chamber offers savings on the following. To sign up, visit our website, or contact the Chamber at 972-542-0163.
Electrical Aggregate Program—McKinney Area Electric Coalition
Thanks to deregulation, the State of Texas electricity market gives your business choices that can save you money, while maintaining the same degree of reliability you have always had. The coalition is a quick, easy and safe way to get the most competitive rate with the least amount of hassle! If you’re a Chamber member, there will be no charge for you to find out how much you can save, and you won’t be obligated to accept an offer if you don’t want to. Contact Fox, Smolen & Associates at 512-322-9090 for more information.
Discount Subscription to Constant Contact: Members can save 20% with a prepaid 6 month subscription and 25% with a prepaid 12 month subscription. Visit http://www.constantcontact.com/chambermembers/index.jsp?pn=mckinneychamber to sign up.
Conference Room Access: Chamber Members have the opportunity to use the Chamber’s conference room for a nominal fee.
Networking and relationship-building
LINKS: This program is a weekly networking meeting designed to facilitate Chamber members in making new meaningful business contacts, and offers a way for Members to promote their business.
Breakfasts & Luncheons: These monthly events feature speakers and presentations to inform and educate our membership about issues that impact the community and our businesses.
Ambassadors: These Chamber members serve as individual representatives of the Chamber throughout the community, at ribbon-cutting celebrations, Chamber events, new member calls, and customer service visits.
Publications: Use our monthly e-newsletter, the Business Focus, and our annual Relocation & Referral Guide as a tool to build relationships. You may call or write new members, or use specific category listings to target potential customers.
Women’s Alliance of McKinney: This organization fosters leadership by offering programs and opportunities to empower, promote and support women in business. To join WAM there is an additional $35 fee.
McKinney Young Professionals: This group focuses on supporting the young professionals in McKinney, ages 21-40, offering networking, connections with business leaders and professional development. To join YP there is an additional $45 fee.
Making Important Connections
Copy of LINKS networking attendee list (over 300 names monthly) – Photo copies of attendee business cards with complete business & contact information in electronic format
Member appreciation annual event - Held annually for Board and staff to show appreciation to members.
Benefits & Breakfast: Comprehensive overview of Chamber benefits, programs, committees & initiatives presented in small group meetings
Weekly Update subscription - Quick reference, stay up to date, reminder, generates event registrations, community information, sponsorship information
Volunteer opportunities - Make a difference in community, build friendships/relationships, builds character/integrity, self-satisfaction, leadership development tool, team-building, corporate citizenship, quality of life alternative
Community Involvement
Chamber Committees: The Chamber offers a variety of opportunities for committee involvement to address our members’ interests and talents.
Government & Legislative Issues: This committee involves business members of the community in the state, local, and county initiatives, regulations and legislation that impact business. One of the primary areas in which the Chamber supports its membership base is with advocacy for business growth and economic prosperity. The Chamber also has a Political Action Committee, an investment-based committee which is able to fund the support or opposition of issues, and in some cases, candidates, in tandem with the Chamber of Commerce’s mission.
Ambassadors: This group serves as the public relations arm of the Chamber of Commerce, welcoming new businesses to McKinney, assisting with service calls, and visiting new members.
McKinney First! Be Vocal. Buy Local: A community effort to build awareness of the community’s need for local small businesses and to educate local consumers on the advantages of supporting the growth of these businesses.
New Teacher Welcome Breakfast and teacher gift bag - Opportunity to support educators and promote member products/services to newly hired MISD teahers/administrators
State of the City annual address – Presented to educate members and community about state of City, Education, Development, Economy
Event Planning Committees: Chamber members can serve on a planning committee for any of our many events. Some of the yearly event planning committees include: Awards Celebration, Golf Tournament, and New Teacher Welcome Breakfast.
Other Committees meet throughout the year to address the needs and goals of the Chamber of Commerce.
*Please note - all committee and Board meetings are open to all Chamber members. Please call to request an agenda.
Training & Education
Seminars and Workshops: The Chamber offers seminars, workshops, training, counseling, expansion & retention resources for businesses of all sizes, in all phases.
Leadership Programs: the McKinney Chamber of Commerce has three leadership development programs.
-- Leadership McKinney: This nine-month community leadership class explores all facets of McKinney - our economy; our local, regional and state governments; our culture, heritage and history; our educational, healthcare and justice systems—along with personal leadership training.
-- Collin Regional Leadership Program: This Chamber sponsored Initiative began in 2004-2005 and was established to bring our surrounding communities together in a collaborative and cooperative effort to further develop a leadership network for the region.
-- McKinney Experience: This community orientation program provides participants the opportunity to connect with their leaders, develop a working knowledge of McKinney and learn about McKinney’s uniqueness and culture.
Other Benefits
Certificates of Origin- free to members