Member Benefits

Membership in the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is a key economic development tool for businesses, offering resources for your business that can help to improve your bottom line.  Included in your members benefits along with opportunities to network to create more business contacts and customers and to promote your company in the most efficient business to business manner, Chamber membership offers professional development opportunities and services / programs to businesses both large and small. As the voice of the business community, the Chamber helps to shape the business climate in Champaign County.

Services / Programs

Complimentary Subscription to Inc. Magazine
New and renewing Chamber members will receive a one-year subscription (12 issues) to Inc. magazine, valued at $10*, as a benefit of membership. Inc. has been called the “small-business bible” by many and the Chamber is excited to offer this great new resource. If you are a current subscriber, your subscription will be extended for another year. Please click here for full details.
*This subscription is refundable for its stated value.

Certificates of Origin
Certification of international shipping documents is provided free of charge to Chamber member businesses.

Conference Rooms
Chamber member businesses needing meeting space have access to the small and large conference rooms in the Champaign County Chamber suite. Use of the conference rooms is based on availability and use by the Champaign County Chamber and its suite partners.

Energy Cooperatives
Chamber members have the opportunity to join our electric and /or gas cooperatives.  These are proven programs to save the members money on their utility costs. More information is available here.

Health Insurance
The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and HCH now offer limited medical plans for Chamber member businesses. These plans are ideal for businesses with employees that do not qualify for or do not participate in traditional Group Medical Plans. It is also ideal for smaller companies or self employed individuals that do not offer group insurance.

Information and Assistance
The Chamber staff handles an average of 100 calls a day, providing up-to-date business information, referrals, community data and assistance to people with specific questions.

Intern Connect Program
The Chamber's Intern Connect program matches local businesses with potential interns from the University of Illinois and Parkland College.

LCD Projector Use
Chamber members can rent an LCD projector for one day with a refundable security deposit. Late fees are charged only if the renter exceeds the 24-hour rental period. Click here to view the projector rental contract.

Notary Public
A Chamber staff person is available to provide notary services free-of-charge to Chamber member businesses.

Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Each year, local, state and federal governments purchase more than $300 billion in goods and services from small businesses. The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) of Central Illinois was established to help small businesses understand and profit from government contracting. Through sponsorship from the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, your business can receive one-on-one counseling, technical information, marketing assistance and training to existing businesses that are interested in selling their products and services to local, state or federal government agencies.

Referrals
Your products and services will be promoted regularly by the Chamber staff in various ways, including the Chamber’s publications, Web site, and events. Also, the Chamber staff handles an average of 100 calls a day, providing up-to-date business information and referrals, community data, and assistance to people with specific questions.

Ribbon Cuttings
Chamber staff are available to be present at your grand opening, open house, or ground breaking. A photograph of your event will be seen by thousands through the Chamber publication, Commerce Connection, as well as the Chamber’s Web site.

Small Business Counseling
Because 80 percent of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce membership is characterized as small business, it is important to the vitality of the Chamber and its membership to provide services specific to them. SCORE, one of the Chamber’s affiliated organizations, provides one-on-one consultations for small and growing businesses at no charge.

Trailing Partners Program
The Chamber's Trailing Partners program brings together local businesses to match job openings with the spouses or partners of recruited talent.

Tax Charts
Need to know the latest sales tax rates for the county? Tax charts are available at the Chamber for a minimal fee.

Networking Opportunities

Annual Meeting
This annual meeting truly is the highlight of the Chamber year, an opportunity to celebrate the Chamber’s achievements and volunteers, and present the Champaign County’s Most Valuable Citizen Award and Small Business of the Year Award.

ATHENA Award Luncheon
Every spring, this nation-wide program recognizes and honors an individual who assists women in realizing their full leadership potential.

Business After Hours
BAH is held the third Thursday of each month from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and hosted by various Chamber member businesses This popular and lively networking opportunity for Chamber members, their employees, and their guests guarantees that contacts will be made to help your company.

Chamber Breakfast Series
Breakfasts are held twice a year from 7:15-8:45 a.m. Featured speakers address topics of concern to the business community.

Chamber Committees
Various committees provide opportunities for Chamber members to work beside others with similar interests, and contribute their energies and expertise on projects that benefit business and the community.

East Central Illinois Business Expo
This very popular business expo showcasing over 120 businesses is held in the spring at the Assembly Hall and is open to the public.

Leadership Institute
Gives members the opportunity to identify their strengths as leaders and provides an understanding of the building blocks of leadership within businesses and organizations.

Chamber Golf Outing & Picnic
This is one of the Chamber’s most popular networking activities! Annually over 170 golfers participate in this fun-filled summer outing held in the first week in June. The day is capped off with a picnic and festivities in the evening, open to all Chamber members and their guests.

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Promotional Opportunities

Business After Hours
There’s no better place to promote your business than at your own location! Every third Thursday of the month from 5-7 p.m., the Chamber’s Business After Hours is hosted by a member business and attendance averages 150-200 members each month. 

Community Link Magazine
A new full-color magazine is produced annually featuring original photography and professionally written stories that will showcase the people, natural beauty and progressive business climate of Champaign County.

Advertising sales begin late summer of each year, with a publishing date of February. Twelve thousand copies are printed for distribution to business prospects and new residents.

Commerce Connection Newsletter
This Chamber newsletter is distributed to every member business, individual contacts within member businesses, plus city, county, and state officials – approximately 2,400 per issue and read by an estimated 10,000 people. Each newsletter contains information on Chamber activities, issues of concern to members, committee reports, special events, new member updates and a calendar of events.

Chamber Web Site
The Web site is designed with the benefit of Chamber members in mind, providing Chamber members more opportunity for exposure. Posting jobs, linking to your Web site, and providing a coupon section where members can offer special discounts to the public are just some of the member benefits offered on the Web site. Other benefits include the Business Connect feature, Community Calendar, and the online business directory. There are also numerous advertising possibilities, including banner ads and listing enhancements.

Community Welcome Service
This is a prime marketing opportunity for Chamber members to introduce their products and services to new community residents within a few weeks of their arrival.

East Central Illinois Business and Consumer Expo
This very popular business expo showcasing over 120 businesses is held in the spring at the Assembly Hall and is open to the public.

List of Potential New Residents
Available for pickup at the Chamber office, this is a monthly list of out-of-town callers who have requested a newcomer’s kit be sent to them.

Mailing Labels
Highly effective for sending out your own mailings, you receive up-to-date self-adhesive mailing labels of all Chamber member businesses. Two lists are available. Click here for list descriptions and pricing information.

Membership Decal
Each year members receive a new decal. This decal is a visual display of community support placed at the entrance of members’ businesses. By becoming a member of the Chamber, you are saying that you do business in a professional, ethical manner and that you care about your community. A version of the decal is also available to display on your business’ Web site.

Membership Directory
A new membership directory is printed annually. An advertising sales campaign is run in the spring, and the directory is distributed to the membership in June.

Additional Promotional Opportunities for New Members Only

         Newsletter Dissertation - New members have the opportunity to include a brief description/profile of their business in the Chamber’s Commerce Connection newsletter. The Commerce Connection, with a circulation of over 25,000, will feature their business in the next issue produced after they join.

         Introduction at Chamber Breakfast - New members are introduced at the first Chamber breakfast they attend, and given an opportunity to say a few words about their business.

         New Member Designation - Businesses are promoted as new members on a special page on the Chamber's Web site. Also, a flashing 'New' icon appears next to each business listing in the online business directory for 90 days after joining.

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Member Services

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Development & Service

CCNet
In partnership with the University of Illinois, the Chamber has is fostering discussion for the purpose of innovation, developing entrepreneurs and finding solutions on sustainability.

For the Future
Through its board of directors and active committees, Chamber members participate in long-range planning for the community and promote business formation, growth and retention.

Leadership Training & Service Opportunities
In addition to the Leadership Institute, service on Chamber committees provides opportunities for leadership development and community involvement.

Legislative Advocacy
The Chamber is a non-partisan organization that advances positions on public policy based on thorough, objective research that is consistent with its mission and will support the Chamber’s goals and vision. As such, the Chamber works towards business-friendly legislation and engages its membership for input on public policy as often as necessary to properly reflect the business community’s position on an issue.

In addition, the Chamber recognizes that true advocacy comes through grass roots efforts and that is why the Chamber started the Business Empowered Political Action Committee.  This PAC allows the business community to be active in identifying and endorsing business friendly candidates to local and state offices. 

Workforce Development
Members support workforce development initiatives through targeted programs. These targeted economic development programs include Intern Connect and the Trailing Partner Program.  Intern Connect is designed to help our members fill in their workforce needs through the talent of the students at Parkland College and the University of Illinois . 

Trailing Partners is an effective recruiting tool for our members’ companies. When a business recruits talent to their company, the recruit often comes with a spouse or partner.  The Chamber has an established network designed to help the trailing partner secure employment so that our members can secure their recruit.

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