• Member Benefits

  • Membership in the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is a key economic development tool for businesses, offering you resources that can help your company to better succeed. As the voice of the business community, the Chamber helps to shape the business climate in Champaign County.

    Becoming a member of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, the area’s premiere business association, allows you to:

  • Save money operating your company through Chamber programs: Save money operating your company through Chamber programs:

    Energy Cooperative

    Start Saving on Energy Today. 

    Gulf Plains Energy, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce’s trusted energy partner, offers electricity and natural gas savings available exclusively for Chamber members. 

    Since 2007: 
    • 700+ members have taken advantage of the cost savings and budget stability
    • Millions of dollars in savings have occurred for Chamber members

    Benefits: 
    Risk-Free 
    • No application fee 
    • No risk of having to cancel your existing contract 
    • Include any combination of electricity and natural gas accounts 

    Cost-Savings 
    • Custom analysis of your energy consumption and use patterns 
    • Fixed contract rate to secure the price you pay 
    • The wholesale expertise and strength of credit through Gulf Plains Energy 
    • Innovative solutions to help ensure the greatest potential savings 

    Energy Expertise Available Locally 
    • Key personnel dedicated to helping respond and address any situation, question or concerns 

    Ready to Start Saving? 
    CLICK HERE to view the application. 

    For more information call 217.359.1791.

     

    Conference Room, Laptops & LCD Projectors:

    Available for members to rent at no charge. Some deposits may be required but are fully refundable upon return of equipment. LCD Projector/Laptop Rental Agreement. To reserve, call 217.359.1791.

  • Improve employee skills through educational and development programs: Improve employee skills through educational and development programs:

    Business Success Seminars

    Designed specifically for Chamber members who are seeking quality, practical and affordable education on how to manage and grow their companies.

    Check out our calendar of events for more information on upcoming workshops. 

     

    LEAD Champaign County aims to mold young professionals into strong local leaders.

    Participants will gain confidence, knowledge, professionalism and strong leadership skills they can bring back to their place of employment. The program is a great way to connect young professionals with their peers and build strong business relationships.

    OUR MISSION:

    Atract and identify the next generation of community leaders in order to grow Champaign County.

    Connect young professionals with the surrounding community through unique opportunities in the areas of service, leadership and advocacy.

    Engage young professionals to have a vested interest in the success of our community.

     

    For more information, contact Lindsay Quick.

  • Enhance and expand your business-to-business sales at one of our networking events: Enhance and expand your business-to-business sales at one of our networking events:

    Business After Hours

    An evening event designed to showcase member businesses and gives attendees an easy way to expand their business network.

    First Friday Coffee

    A morning event intended for members to showcase their business and provides members the opportunity to obtain new business connections.

    Connect @ Lunch

    Connect, share, and learn while enjoying a great meal! This is a great way to spend your lunch hour with other Chamber members to discuss business. We will meet monthly over a productive lunch hour, where members meet other members, look for sales leads, and seek answers to business challenges.

    For times and locations, please visit our event calendar.

  • Obtain new customers with exclusive members-only marketing opportunities: Obtain new customers with exclusive members-only marketing opportunities:

    Website Banner Ads

    What can just $0.1 get you? Customers!

    In the past three months alone our website has been viewed over 30,000 unique times.With website banner ad rates starting at just $300, that means your business can visible to thousands of new potential customers for less than $.01 per view. Website banner ads will be sold in 3, 6 or 12 month commitments:

    Premier Pages (pages with higher monthly views)

    •  3 months - $500
    •  6 months - $800
    • 12 months - $1,500

    Standard Pages

    •  3 months - $300
    •  6 months - $500
    • 12 months - $1,000

    Banner ads are limited. Take advantage of this opportunity before your competition does.

    CLICK HERE for more information about pricing. 

     

    Community Welcome Service:

    Chamber members get their marketing materials in the hands of new Champaign County residents, which provides members with the opportunity to build their mailing lists. Call 217.359.1791 for more information on how your business can participate.

    Website:

    Through the Members Only section, you have the ability to add your events to our Community Calendar. We also provide a complementary Job Bank and you can offer all Chamber members discount through our Member Deals section.

    Commerce Connection Marketing:

    Market your business via the Chamber’s bi-monthly publication that has an estimated reach of nearly 10,000. There are options that fit a variety of budgets. CLICK HERE for more details.

    Email Footers:

    Chamber staff sends an average of over 12,000 emails per week. This marketing opportunity allows your business to place a banner on every email sent out of the Chamber office. Visit the Publications tab under News Room for more information.

    e-Connection Banners:

    Sent out Monday mornings to over 2,100 area business leaders, the Chamber e-Connection is a valuable tool that features upcoming events, news and happenings. The format allows subscribers easy access to all things Chamber-your banner displayed prominently on top.

    Sponsorship:

    Are you looking for additional exposure and value from your Chamber membership? Consider an event sponsorship. As an event sponsor, your business will gain exposure, publicity, and brand recognition in today’s competitive market. Your business name will reach local businesses and community leaders who recognize and appreciate companies that help and support the business community via the Chamber and it’s initiatives to create a healthy business climate. You will stand out in the crowd while you make valuable connections for the growth of your business.  

    To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, check out our Sponsorship Guide or email Lindsay. 

  • Utilize business resources to help your business succeed: Utilize business resources to help your business succeed:

    Business Advisors' Council

    With over 15 experienced advisors with backgrounds in a variety of fields, the Business Advisors' Council is committed to growing business one idea at a time through complimentary business counseling. 

    By utilizing the skills and expertise of volunteer, seasoned business professionals, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce cultivates, encourages, and fosters business development and growth of entrepreneurial startups and existing businesses through direct or indirect mentorship,  education, counseling and networking. 

    Learn more about this program here.

     

     

    BIGG Success:

    A digital publishing company with educational material for professionals,entrepreneurs, small businesses and community banks.

    Learn more here.

     

    Tools for Business Success:

    One stop resource to local, state, federal and best-of-the-web resources to start and grow your business.

    Check out the resources here.

  • Additional Resources and Services Additional Resources and Services

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

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

    Voter Registration
    Not registered to vote? Stop by our office and we can help you change that. 

  • Advocate for your business and the local business community; your voice matters. Advocate for your business and the local business community; your voice matters.

    Champaign County First

    Champaign County First (CC1) is a united, countywide effort to identify projects and/or initiatives that, when successfully completed, will greatly benefit the citizens of Champaign County; spur economic development; and improve the quality of life in Champaign County. Champaign County First partners are committed to advocating on behalf of the identified projects at the local, state and/or federal level with one voice in order to transform Champaign County.

    Business Empowered PAC

    The Champaign County Business Empowered Political Action Committee (PAC) meets as needed to identify and to make endorsements of business friendly candidates for state and local office. Applications for a PAC board position should be mailed to the Chamber Office at 303 W. Kirby, Champaign, IL 61820, or e-mailed to Public Policy Director Madeline Herrman. 

    Learn more about the Chamber's advocacy efforts here.