LOWELL COMMUNITY
EXPO
The Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Area Schools, and the exclusive Business Sponsor host this event on the fourth Saturday of March at the Lowell High School. This event is designed to spotlight your business, organization, church, or municipality to other businesses and the public. The EXPO increases the community awareness of the products and services that are sold, provided, and/or manufactured by the greater Lowell Area businesses. Chamber members receive a discounted rate on booth space.
WEB SITE
Chamber members may be a featured business for a one month period ($40). New Chamber members are listed as “new” for added exposure. Up-to-date information keeps Lowell in the web site of the world. You can reach us at our Web Site www.discoverlowell.org or by
email info@lowellchamber.org.
EMAIL BLAST
Breaking and current news and events from your chamber will arrive regularly through a e-blast communication. Call your chamber to make sure that your email address are listed with us. (We do not publish or sell email addresses.) We also do not publish paper newsletters, your chamber is going green!
CONSTANT CONTACT
Chamber Members save up to 25% through the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce membership on email, survey and event marketing.
MEMBERS TO MEMBERS
ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
This program is designed to provide discounts to Chamber membership, making the association a more attractive investment, and to encourage member-to-member business. Please read and fill out the Advantage
Program Contract and Policy to add your business to the program.
SCORE
SCORE operates in cooperation with the Small Business Administration and provides business owners with information vital to their successes, including counseling on financing options, business planning, marketing strategies, product development and more. SCORE's web site is www.score.org. Free Score counseling is available at your Chamber by calling for an appointment the 2nd Tuesday of the Month.
BUSINESS REFERRAL
On a daily basis, the chamber receives requests for recommendations on goods and services to be purchased in the Greater Lowell Area. We refer these newcomers, tourists, area residents, and businesses to our chamber members.
PROMOTIONAL DISPLAYS
Only members can display their cards and promotional
materials in the Chamber office.
MAILING LISTS
The Chamber has many types of computerized mailing lists. Members may purchase a mailing list printed on label sheets for a small fee of 6 cents for each name/label. A second option is to request a free electronic list.
SPONSORSHIPS
Members have the opportunity to be recognized sponsors at all of our special events. Just call the chamber to find how enhance your visibility in our community.
Networking Opportunities
AMBASSADORS
This group focuses on membership recruitment, retention, communication, and hospitality. This group is another networking opportunity for a member to meet others within the membership and beyond.
BREAKFAST CLUB & BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
These meetings offer opportunities to network with other business people and to promote your business. You will learn about other businesses in your chamber.
GOLF OUTING
Chamber members and their guests enjoy a golf scramble, a great opportunity to blend fun and business while assisting in the growth of our scholarship program.
COMMITTEES
Members may participate in any of our active, dynamic committees, covering a wide range of interests such as Merchants, Ambassadors, Marketing, Community Expo, Riverwalk Festival, Christmas, Annual Winter Gathering of the Membership , all special events, and much more.
ANNUAL WINTER GATHERING
This meeting highlights social, business, and chamber members' contributions to the success of the Lowell Area. The Business Appreciation and Person of the Year Awards are given at this meeting.
The criteria for the Business Appreciation Award are:
• The business must be established and demonstrate the
following qualities.
• Outstanding service
• Community investment
• Employment opportunity
• Volunteer service to the Greater Lowell Community
The criteria for the Person of the Year Award are:
• Over time, the candidate has freely donated
considerable time to the community, school district,
church, or humanity. This is over and above the
demands of their regular profession
• The community is a better place to live because of
the efforts of the candidate
• The candidate positively promotes the community
in both word and action
• The candidate possesses new and innovative ideas
that benefit the community
• The candidate cannot be a Chamber
Board/Foundation Board member at the time of
nomination
Additional Benefits
GREATER LOWELL CHAMBER FOUNDATION
This foundation is a 501 (c)3 organization operated under the blanket of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this organization is to provide programming and funding that enhances the quality of life in the Greater Lowell area, or otherwise serves a charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purpose. The foundation currently manages Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts, Showboat, and Kaleidoscope. The foundation will work on innovative programs that will benefit business and community
VISITORS CENTER AND RIVERWALK GALLERY
First opened on January 1, 1995, this center acquaints new people with information about Lowell and the surrounding areas and gives available information about the businesses, schools, churches, service groups and what Lowell has to offer. Our facility is located on the Riverwalk Plaza, in the heart of Downtown Historic Lowell. Our facility is also home to the Riverwalk Gallery, a gallery space dedicated to art in public spaces. The art changes four times a year offering area artists an opportunity to display their art.
MEETING ROOM
Our facility offers Chamber members a conference room with kitchen amenities. Chamber Members may host special meetings, monthly board meetings, and social events. A Chamber Member can use the facility up to four times a year at no charge. A small fee is may be charged for cleaning.
PARTNERSHIP IN CITY GOVERNMENT,
EDUCATION, AND BUSINESS
Our board is comprised of people from various businesses that bring us news of what is going on in our community. In addition, we have ex-officio members from the City of Lowell, Lowell Area Schools. Lowell Area Arts Council and Lowell YMCA.
Special Events
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
GNO is held twice a year, April and October. It’s a fun filled night for ladies to enjoy socializing, shopping, sampling and just having fun in our retail businesses!
SHOWBOAT SIZZLIN’
SUMMER CONCERTS
This very popular summer event is sponsored by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lowell Area Arts Council. The concerts begin in June and end in August. Admission and parking are free. These concerts are funded by the Lowell Area Community Fund, Downtown Development Authority, and private businesses.
RIVERWALK FESTIVAL
Riverwalk Festival is a Chamber fundraiser that brings many outsiders to our city and supports the operation of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center. This three-day event includes many activities where you and your family will enjoy the concerts, flush tank, arts and crafts, Rumble the Riverwalk and FROM the Heart parade, pet parade, Lowell Riverwalk Fest Cruise-in, Kidz Zone, non-profit groups, historic river tours, pontoon rides, kayak and canoe race, kayak fun, food booths, spirits on the Lowell Showboat, Beer Tent, Riverwalk BBQ, downtown merchants sidewalk sales and open house, Lowell Community Wellness Health & Fitness Fair, entertainment, $1500 duck race, fireworks and much more.
HARVEST CELEBRATION AND FESTIVAL
OF SCARECROWS
This event is spearheaded by the Chamber and held collaboratively with several other organizations. The activities include the Kent County Youth Fair arts and crafts show & Flat River Antique Fair, Harvest Farmers’ Market, Larkin's Chili Madness Chili Cook-off & live music, downtown retailers’ open houses, sales, and , scarecrow building hoe-down, ghost stories, Lowell Community Wellness 5K family fun run and walk. The scarecrows made are proudly displayed on Main Street through the month of October.
CHRISTMAS THROUGH
LOWELL
The third weekend in November several businesses and homes are open to the public selling wares, arts & crafts and homemade goodies. This event starts the holiday season and brings hundreds of shoppers to our city.
FLAT RIVER FREEZE ICE SCULPTURE
CHALLENGE AND SANTA PARADE
Festivities include a pancake supper with Santa, night-time Santa parade, ice sculpting, visits with Santa, pictures with Santa on the Robert E Lee, children's crafts and Christmas Shopping!
SANTA VISIT’S ON THE LOWELL SHOWBOAT
Children and adults can visit with Santa and tour the Magical Lowell Showboat the month of December. Hot cocoa, cookies and a memory will be waiting for them.
AWARDS
PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Click here for Past Recipients of the Person of the Year Award