| Chamber History
The Darke County Chamber of Commerce is a
not-for-profit business association formed in 1927 and incorporated as a 501(c)6.
The Chamber is an accredited Chamber with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Originally incorporated as the Greenville
Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber became a county-wide entity in 1974. Today, the
Darke County Chamber of Commerce represents nearly 500 businesses within the Darke County
area. Member businesses range in size from sole proprietors to partnerships to
subsidiary plants for Fortune 100 companies employing several hundred.
As a business association, the Darke County
Chamber of Commerce is a leading voice for business within the community. The
Chamber represents its membership as an advocate, as a leader in economic development for
the region, and as an administrator of member benefit programs.
As a business advocate, the Chamber has
formed alliances at the local, regional, state and national level. The Darke County
Chamber is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce GAIN (Grassroots Action Information
Network), the Ohio Small Business Council GROW (Grassroots Ohio Works) program, and
partners with the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce on LEAD (Legislative Education and
Advocacy for Darke County).
As a member benefit administrator, the Darke
County Chamber of Commerce offers its members discount purchasing power and group rating
pools for workers compensation insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, vision
insurance, supplemental insurance, long-distance telephone rates, cellular telephones, and
InterNet services.
The Darke County Chamber of Commerce
operates a gift certificate program designed to keep shopping dollars in Darke County, and
specifically, with members of the Chamber.
The Chamber office is located at 622 S.
Broadway in Greenville, Ohio. President of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce is
Louanna Gwinn. Ms. Gwinn is an Accredited Professional, earning that designation in
1998 from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio. She is a graduate of Institute
for Organizational Management at Notre Dame University in Indiana. In 2000, Ms.
Gwinn was chosen CCEO Professional of the Year for chambers serving populations of more
than 50,000.
|
