JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY!
The Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce always welcomes new members. Want to know what the benefits of being a Chamber member? Call the Chamber today at 616-897-9161.
Marketing & Business
LOWELL COMMUNITY EXPO
The Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Area Schools, and the exclusive Business Sponsor host this event on the fourth Saturday of March at the Lowell High School. This event is designed to spotlight your business, organization, church, or municipality to other businesses and the public. The EXPO increases the community awareness of the products and services that are sold, provided, and/or manufactured by the greater Lowell Area businesses. Chamber members receive a discounted rate on booth space.
EMAIL BLAST
Breaking and current news and events from your chamber will arrive regularly through a e-blast communication. Call your chamber to make sure that your email address are listed with us. (We do not publish or sell email addresses.) We also do not publish paper newsletters, your chamber is going green!
CONSTANT CONTACT
Chamber Members save up to 25% through the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce membership on email, survey and event marketing.
MEMBERS TO MEMBERS ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
This program is designed to provide discounts to Chamber membership, making the association a more attractive investment, and to encourage member-to-member business. Please read and fill out the Advantage Program Contract and Policy to add your business to the program.
SCORE
SCORE operates in cooperation with the Small Business Administration and provides business owners with information vital to their successes, including counseling on financing options, business planning, marketing strategies, product development and more. SCORE’s web site is www.score.org. Free Score counseling is available at your Chamber by calling for an appointment the 2nd Tuesday of the Month.
BUSINESS REFERRAL
On a daily basis, the chamber receives requests for recommendations on goods and services to be purchased in the Greater Lowell Area. We refer these newcomers, tourists, area residents, and businesses to our chamber members.
PROMOTIONAL DISPLAYS
Only members can display their cards and promotional materials in the Chamber office.
MAILING LISTS
The Chamber has many types of computerized mailing lists. Members may purchase a mailing list printed on label sheets for a small fee of 6 cents for each name/label. A second option is to request a free electronic list.
SPONSORSHIPS
Members have the opportunity to be recognized sponsors at all of our special events. Just call the chamber to find how enhance your visibility in our community.
Networking Opportunities
AMBASSADORS
This group focuses on membership recruitment, retention, communication, and hospitality. This group is another networking opportunity for a member to meet others within the membership and beyond.
BREAKFAST CLUB & BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
These meetings offer opportunities to network with other business people and to promote your business. You will learn about other businesses in your chamber.
GOLF OUTING
Chamber members and their guests enjoy a golf scramble, a great opportunity to blend fun and business while assisting in the growth of our scholarship program.
COMMITTEES
Members may participate in any of our active, dynamic committees, covering a wide range of interests such as Merchants, Ambassadors, Marketing, Community Expo, Riverwalk Festival, Christmas, Annual Winter Gathering of the Membership , all special events, and much more.
ANNUAL WINTER GATHERING OF THE MEMBERSHIP
This annual meeting highlights social, business, and chamber members’ contributions to the success of the Lowell Area. The Business Appreciation and Person of the Year Awards are given at this meeting.
The criteria for the Business Appreciation Award are:
- The business must be established and demonstrate the following qualities.
- Outstanding service
- Employment opportunity
- Community investment
- Volunteer service to the Greater Lowell Community
- May only receive the award one time
Click her for the Past Business Appreciation Recipients
The criteria for the Person of the Year Award are:
- Over time, the candidate has freely donated considerable time to the community, school district, church, or humanity. This is over and above the demands of their regular profession
- The community is a better place to live because of the efforts of the candidate
- The candidate positively promotes the community in both word and action
- The candidate possesses new and innovative ideas that benefit the community
- The candidate cannot be a Chamber Board/Foundation Board member at the time of nomination
- May only receive the award one time
Click here for Past Recipients
The criteria for Brick Awards
Award is given to Chamber Member(s) who has made a commitment to Greater Lowell Area over year. A business must be in the Industry, Retail/Service and/or Non-Profit category to be eligible for this award. This award category does not have to be awarded each year.
- Capital investment in their existing business
- Improving our economic base within the Greater Lowell Community
- Making an investment to grow and further develop their business
- Creating vibrancy within the community
- No consecutive awards
Click here for Past Brick Recipients
The criteria for Most Promising New Business
- Demonstrate the ability to improve the economic base within the Greater Lowell Community
- New business or a new venture of an existing business in the Greater Lowell Community
- May only receive the award one time
Click here for Nomination Form and Past Recipients
The criteria for Non-Profit Spotlight
- Recognizing an outstanding non-profit over the past year
Past Recipients: Flat River Outreach Ministries, Lowell Rotary, Lowell Women’s Club, Pink Arrow Project, Impact Church, LowellArts , Alpha Family Center, Kent County Youth Fair, Lowell Area Historical Museum and Litehouse Family YMCA.
Additional Benefits
GREATER LOWELL CHAMBER FOUNDATION
This foundation is a 501 (c)3 organization operated under the blanket of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this organization is to provide programming and funding that enhances the quality of life in the Greater Lowell area, or otherwise serves a charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purpose. The foundation currently manages Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts, Showboat, and Kaleidoscope. The foundation will work on innovative programs that will benefit business and community
VISITORS CENTER AND RIVERWALK GALLERY
First opened on January 1, 1995, this center acquaints new people with information about Lowell and the surrounding areas and gives available information about the businesses, schools, churches, service groups and what Lowell has to offer. Our facility is located on the Riverwalk Plaza, in the heart of Downtown Historic Lowell. Our facility is also home to the Riverwalk Gallery, a gallery space dedicated to art in public spaces.
MEETING ROOM
Our facility offers Chamber members a conference room with kitchen amenities. Chamber Members may host special meetings, monthly board meetings, and social events. A Chamber Member can use the facility up to four times a year at no charge. A small fee is may be charged for cleaning. LACC Building Use and Rules
PARTNERSHIP IN CITY GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND BUSINESS
Our board is comprised of people from various businesses and organizations that bring us news of what is going on in our community. In addition, we have ex-officio members from the City of Lowell and Lowell Area Schools
Special Events
Special Events Sponsored by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
GNO is held twice a year, April and October. It’s a fun filled night for ladies to enjoy socializing, shopping, sampling and just having fun in our retail businesses!
SHOWBOAT SIZZLIN’ SUMMER CONCERTS
This very popular summer event is sponsored by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and the LowellArts!. The concerts begin in June and end in August. Admission and parking are free. These concerts are funded by the Lowell Area Community Fund, City of Lowell Downtown Development Authority, and private businesses.
RIVERWALK FESTIVAL
Riverwalk Festival is a Chamber fundraiser that brings many outsiders to our city and supports the operation of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center. This three-day event includes many activities where you and your family will enjoy the concerts, flush tank, arts and crafts, Rumble the Riverwalk and FROM the Heart parade, Cruise-in, Motorcycle Run, Kidz Zone, non-profit groups, historic river tours, pontoon rides, kayak and canoe race, kayak fun, food booths, spirits on the Lowell Showboat, downtown merchants sidewalk sales and open house, entertainment, $1500 duck raffle, fireworks and much more.
HARVEST CELEBRATION
This event is spearheaded by the Chamber and held collaboratively with several other organizations. The activities include the Kent County Youth Fair & Chamber “Autumn Marketplace”, Larkin’s Chili Madness Chili Cook-off & live music, downtown retailers’ open houses, sales, and , scarecrow building hoe-down, Lowell Community Wellness 5K family fun run and walk and much more!
CHRISTMAS THROUGH LOWELL
The third weekend in November several businesses and homes are open to the public selling wares, arts & crafts and homemade goodies. This event starts the holiday season and brings hundreds of shoppers to our city.
SANTA PARADE
Festivities include a pancake supper with Santa, night-time Santa parade, visits with Santa, pictures with Santa on the Lowell Showboat, children’s crafts and Christmas Shopping!
SANTA VISIT’S WITH SANTA
Children and adults can visit with Santa the month of December. Hot cocoa, cookies and a memory will be waiting for them.
Boards and Committee
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOARD DIRECTOR
A Chamber Board Director will attend monthly board meetings, not missing more than four per year. The time and date of Board Meetings are set by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the new year. A Board Director will be assigned to oversee one of the committees within the Chamber designated by the Chamber By-Laws: Annual Gathering, Expo, Summer Concerts, Ambassadors, Merchants, Riverwalk, Marketing, Christmas and Personnel/Financial.
A Board Director is asked to attend and support as many as the following Chamber functions as possible: Breakfast Club, Business After Hours, Annual Winter Gathering of the Membership, Community Expo, Golf Scramble, Summer Concerts Series, Riverwalk Festival, Christmas Festivities and new projects that will occur. We also believe that a good balance is important in your life, family and work come first. The Board of Director will assist the Chamber in implementing the mission statement.
If you believe that you would be a good fit for the Chamber Board, please call your Chamber at 616-897-9161.
Click here for Responsibilities of a Board Director
LOWELL CHAMBER AMBASSADOR
- An Ambassador is a LACC member business representative or individual member who promotes the mission statement of the LACC
- An Ambassador will serve as an official host for the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
- The Ambassador League assists LACC staff and board in retaining and recruiting business members through personal visits or phone calls to answer questions and by providing information about membership and activities.
- Ambassadors will assist in programs, hospitality efforts, and other LACC projects as requested by the Executive Director and the Chamber Board (Breakfast Club, After Hours & other networking opportunities)
Interested call the Chamber at 616-897-9161.
Click here for Criteria and Responsibilities of Chamber Ambassador
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About Us
The Chamber is made up of more than 300 businesses, clubs and organizations and we provide a wide range of services and events for our members and residential community.