Wichita, Kansas | August 2009
Chamber, Business, Networking, Success, Community, Prosperity
Writtn by: Barby Jobe is Vice President of Government Relations and Communications at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce

When WomensFocus asked me if I wanted to write an article explaining what the Chamber does, I jumped at the chance. After all, it’s one of questions most asked of our front desk.

The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a part of our community since 1917. We are a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that represents business members throughout the metro area. We are the largest business member association in the state of Kansas and are governed by a board of directors representing businesses both large and small.

Bottom Line…The Chamber Connection

The Wichita Metro Chamber connects business members to the community, to other businesses, to new people, and to issues and projects that are important. Our mission is to “empower business members to increase the wealth and well-being of all South Central Kansans.”

The Chamber also serves as the “voice of business” to legislative bodies and is a resource for professional development opportunities. We respond to the specific needs and interests of our diverse membership by providing tailored, value-based business, employee, educational and personal development experiences. We focus our strategies, programs, and services to provide a positive effect on the bottom line for business.

Community Connections

Business development doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and the Chamber positions the private sector to take advantage of the latest and most important developments in the community. The Chamber represents private sector business interests and works as a partner in many projects with the City of Wichita and with Sedgwick County.

You may not realize it, but Visioneering Wichita – a comprehensive, long-range planning initiative for South Central Kansas – is a program of the Wichita Metro Chamber. Visioneering Wichita works to create a strategic plan that ensures quality of life and encourages our young people to live, learn, work and play in our regional community.

Young Professionals of Wichita (YPW) is one of the top young professional programs in the nation. YPW is the rally point for immediate engagement, leadership assimilation and proactive direction in designing the future of our community. It is also a Chamber program.

The Chamber provides numerous opportunities for involvement of its members and the community. For example, each year, the community is invited to hear a well-known speaker at the Chamber’s annual meeting. This year, we are featuring Gene Kranz, the Apollo 13 mission control director who brought the astronauts home safely and coined the phrase, “Failure is not an option.”

Small Business Connections

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and are our largest customer group. More than 80% of small business members employ 100 or fewer people. The business needs of small business owners and their employees are at the forefront of Chamber programs and strategies. The priorities that guide the Chamber in providing resources for companies include identifying and winning new customers, developing peer relationships, employee training and development, access to important business and community decision-makers, and small business sector promotion. We strive to offer educational opportunities that provide tangible benefits. Professional training and volunteer opportunities present businesses and their employees with a chance to work on business rather than simply working in it.

Legislative Connections

The greatest expense for most businesses, after compensating employees and covering their benefits, is the cost associated with taxes and government regulations.

Providing a business-friendly environment where companies are positioned to grow is critical, so the Chamber aggressively pursues legislative priorities that benefit its members. We provide our members with candidate and issue education and numerous opportunities for interaction with elected officials.

Connections for Quality and Quantity Jobs

Job creation, expansion, and retention are the core ingredients of a successful economic development program. That’s why the Chamber houses the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC). The GWEDC promotes greater Wichita’s advantages regionally, nationally and globally. The GWEDC understands the attributes that relocating business owners are seeking when deciding to make a commitment to our community for jobs and attendant capital investment.

Get Connected

In this turbulent economy, businesses need the support of the Chamber now more than ever. We provide businesses with affordable educational opportunities and community investments that don’t exist elsewhere.