2020 End of the Year Report

A letter from Mark Heuberger

Dear Chamber Member,

Like many of you, the Collierville Chamber is relieved and optimistic to be facing a new year. In 2020, we all experienced challenges but also, in many cases, found out what we are made of. As for the Collierville community, we’re made of compassion, grit, hope and resilience.

For the Chamber, we found out that we are as valuable and relevant as we’ve ever been to our members, the business community and the community at large. During the past year, we’ve worked harder than ever to counsel businesses, assist in the relief loan-seeking process, connect individuals with lenders and offer general support to help our enterprises weather the storm.

Here are some highlights, reflecting on things we accomplished and ways we provided support to the business community:

  • Providing resources. At the beginning of 2020, we introduced a new Chamber website. Designed to make information and resources easier to navigate, the new site is mobile adaptive and user-friendly. In March, we developed a COVID-19 Business Resource Center on our website with loan relief documents, links to resources and webinars, and up-to-date news and information. Our efforts were recognized in the Daily Memphian and the Memphis Business Journal. We also made weekly posts on our website and social media with details on the Back to Business Framework for re-opening businesses. This year for the first time, the Chamber received a Shelby County Enhancement Grant. These funds will be available for use in 2021 and will allow us to broaden our scope of programming, especially in the area of small business development.
  • Innovating marketing. In April, we developed a marketing initiative called “Love on a Local Level – Shop Collierville” with the primary purpose of local business recovery. This initiative is still in progress as we move into the spring of 2021. We also developed an app called Experience Collierville as a way for Chamber businesses to market themselves and attract customers. The app is currently available on the App Store and is being promoted to the greater public through social media, newsletters and word of mouth.
  • Economic Development: In the spring, we created a new economic development section of our website called “Why Collierville.” Designed to help those researching Collierville as a new or expanded location for their business, “Why Collierville” is a hub of economic development resources. To create regional and national awareness of Collierville’s assets and attributes, the Chamber developed an accompanying video series, appropriately named “Why Collierville,” for use in various marketing initiatives. Funds for the “Why Collierville” projects were provided by the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) Grant.
  • Hosting events. To kick off 2020, we partnered with the town of Collierville to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Our February luncheon was filled to capacity and served as the launch event for the Town’s “Shine the Light” anniversary campaign. The Chamber hosted two “Next Normal and Beyond” community forums in June and July for local healthcare providers and local elected officials and community leaders. We also hosted the Excellence in Business Awards in January and held a golf tournament in a new and innovative way. Our Chamber Face Mask Challenge helped us collect 500 reusable face masks for the employees of the Collierville Police and Fire Departments.
  • Connecting people. We have continued engaging our Chamber community with monthly membership luncheons in a safe and healthy way. These programs help business leaders connect while also supporting local restaurants who provide the food and refreshments. We have also developed and distributed a series of articles called “The Path to the ‘Next Normal” that shares the stories of how local entrepreneurs responded and adjusted to a new way of doing business.
  • Growing membership. In the midst of the economic downturn, the Chamber was still able to gain 40 new members who see the value in membership and whose partnership helps support us all.

As you can see, the Chamber is committed to being here for you no matter the circumstance or crisis – promoting, connecting, educating and advocating for you and your business. And we’re not slowing down. If anything, we are finding more innovative ways to adjust our model to match the current environment and to further support our members.

I want to personally thank the Chamber staff for their hard work, dedication and perseverance. When COVID-19 kept throwing new challenges our way, our employees never gave up and kept working to serve you.

We have an outstanding scope of programs, events and plans ready to roll out in 2021, and we look forward to serving as a vital resource to you and your business in the coming year.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Best,

Mark Heuberger

President | CEO

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