The role of the Chamber
The Keene Economic Development Corporation( Type A board) and the Keene Chamber agree on their distinctive roles: Type A recruits business to locate in Keene and the Chamber helps them succeed.
It’ s really a distinction determined by finances. Unlike the Type A and Type B boards, which share a small percentage of the local sales tax revenue, the Chamber has no such guaranteed source of funds. It survives on membership dues and fundraisers, such as the annual banquet, golf tournament, business expo and the biennial membership directory.
Imagine, from its humble beginning on July 1, 1993, when 26 people met at the Keene Diner, the Keene Chamber of Commerce has grown to be a productive resident of Keene. And remember, all chamber directors are volunteers.
Here are other efforts of the chamber in addition to those mentioned on pages 10-11:
• KEENE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY.
This directory, designed, written and photographed by volunteers, will be distributed to all businesses, schools, elected officials and others in the Keene area.
• THE CHAMBER OFFICE. Located at 110 S. South Old Betsy Road, the
volunteers who staff the office field scores and scores of phone inquiries about Keene; about our schools, real estate prices, job opportunities, places to eat, and everything asked of a big-city chamber, only not with the same volume.
• THE CHAMBER’ S WEB PAGE.
The chamber’ s Web page represents Keene to the world of cyberspace. It’ s informative, attractive and presents Keene in a positive image. You can visit at www. keenechamber. org.
• CITIZEN AWARDS.
Each year since 1993, local residents and businesses are recognized at the annual banquet. Awards are given for service to the community( Community Service Award), for improving the looks of the community( Community Improvement Award), for good deeds done yesteryear and still being done today( Pioneer Award), for assisting without seeking recognition( Phillip Sparks Helping Hands Award), for contributing to our public and private educational systems( Educator of the Year for public and private schools) and for making a positive contribution to our town( Citizen of the Year).
All businesses and individuals on the Chamber’ s contact roster have the opportunity to nominate someone for each of the categories.
Keene Fire-Rescue Chief Dan Warner, left, and Keene Police Chief James Kidd, right, were presented Citizen of the Year honors for 2024. Presenting the plaques is Richard Bothe, center, who won the honor last year.
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