The mission of the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce is to serve, represent and enhance business growth and success and promote the community as a positive place to live, work and visit. Executive Director, Donna McKay and Communications Coordinator, Amanda McBride, along with many committee members and volunteers spend many long hours doing just that.
Events planned and hosted by the Chamber in 2018 included: Meet the Mayor Receptions for Ackerman and Weir; First Responders Dinner; Teacher Appreciation Gifts; awarding of First Impressions Grants; Sturgis Bike Rally Luncheon; State of Our Community Expo; Industry Appreciation Luncheon; Merchant/Business Breakfast; Jack-O-Lantern Jam; and the Christmas Parade and activities.
In addition, the Chamber sponsored ribbon-cutting ceremonies for seven new businesses in Choctaw County: the Choctaw County Nursing Home Expansion; Choctaw County Library; Buttons & Bows Daycare; Sentiments & Sundries; Forks, Knives and Spoons; Merritt Railcar; and Kuts and Kurls.
In June of 2018, McKay and McBride attended a week-long training course in non-profit management, in Athens, GA, at the Institute of Organizational Management. This was their fourth year and both graduated with IOM certification.
The Chamber of Commerce operates under the umbrella of the Choctaw County Economic Development District Board, which is a quasi-government entity. Some funding comes through the Economic Development District and from membership fees.
Each year the Chamber sets aside $15K to be awarded as First Impressions grants. These grants are awarded in June to non-profit entities in amounts up to $3.3K. The grants are a 70/30 match and a committee chooses the recipients.
In 2018 grants were awarded to: Ackerman Church of God, Choctaw County Library, Choctaw County Medical Foundation, French Camp Downtown Preservation, Panhandle Community Center, Repairer of the Breach Ministries and the Town of Ackerman.
Some upcoming events are a homecoming for National Guard troops and a July Stump Rally which offer the community a chance to meet and become familiar with political candidates.
Also, the Chamber is a ‘one stop shop’ for information about Choctaw County. McKay stated that they could provide almost any information one would need about the county, and if not they would probably know someone who had the information.
Membership in the Chamber of Commerce is open to businesses and individuals; McKay said that they will placing a special emphasis on individual memberships in 2019. Currently, the Chamber boasts 94 members.
The Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce is located at 55 East Quinn, in the J.P. Coleman Building. For information, call 662-285-3778 or go to the website: www.choctawcountycoc.com.
