The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce has a very important role to play as our community moves forward through these challenging times. The Chamber’s role is to be a strong and unified voice of the business community. We represent over 700 businesses and individuals in the Frankfort area and are proud of our Governmental Affairs Committee and new Local Discussion Group for keeping our Chamber updated on important issues locally and regionally.
Some of the issues the Frankfort Chamber is currently working on include:
(1). Support of Riverfront Development – continued support to the Frankfort Tourist Commission and Riverfront Development.
(2). Support of a business – friendly economically developing community and continue to improve the doing business in Frankfort publication that is available FREE at the Chamber office.
((3). New Access Loan Program – open to new start up businesses or businesses wanting to expand. Our program began in the fall 2010.
(4). Economic Development – worked with area industry leaders to improve entry signs to Industrial Parks 1 and 2.
Thanks to the support of our Chamber members the Frankfort Chamber has been able to offer our membership the following:
(1). M2M Discounts – a great way to keep people shopping locally and to promote your business. As an
added bonus to your business our M2M discounts have been extended to your employees. You may
use this new service as an employee incentive to assist in retention.
(2). United Healthcare Insurance – open to small business Chamber members in good standing with 02-99
employees. For a free quote call the Chamber office.
(3). Company listing in our Chamber Newcomer Guide, Chamber Annual Report, and website. Each member
has up to (2) listings in each publication at no cost. Saving you $$ in advertising costs.
(4). Ability to network with potential clients, customers, and peers on local and regional level, through our
Regional Business after Hours events.
(5). Promotion of your business through our Spotlight Your Business articles in the Chamber Newsletter at
no additional cost.
(6). Referrals – When inquiries come into the Chamber office, only Chamber member businesses are
referred.
These are only a few of the ways your Chamber membership pays for itself. For more information on the Chamber or our programs, please call the office at 502.223.8261.
MEMBER BENEFITS
BUSINESS DIRECTORY/QUALITY OF LIFE MAGAZINE - Your membership in the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce provides you with two listings by category in our business directory section of the quality of Place Magazine/Relocation Guide. Copies are distributed by the Chamber and area real estates services, along with the area hospital and Economic Development for recruitment each year. This directory goes out to over 700 members for distribution, and is also put on display in the Chamber lobby for visitors to pick up. This directory serves as our relocation guide, which is mailed to potential new residents upon request. Advertising opportunities in this publication are offered to our member only.
FRANKFORT DETAILED CITY/COUNTY MAP - The Chamber publishes the official map to Frankfort every year with a distribution of 15,000. It is distributed through the Chamber. Advertising opportunities are offered to our members only.
STATE OF THE COMMUNITY PUBLICATION - In 2011 the Frankfort Chamber is partnering with the City of Frankfort, Downtown Frankfort, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist Commission, Franklin County Fiscal Court, Kentucky Capital Development Corporation, Kentucky State University, and our local school systems to provide a new publication that will highlight our community and local partnerships. This publication will report on 2010 progress and accomplishments, and will announce the 2011 Program or Work for each organization. The State of the Community will be a tabloid magazine style publication. It will be distributed as an insert in The State Journal for maximum exposure to your current and potential customers and clients. Each organization will also distribute this publication throughout 2011 as a membership development and community orientation tool newcomers and businesses.
CAPITAL VISITOR GUIDE -The Capital Visitor is jointly published by the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist Commission and Downtown Frankfort, Inc. This publication is posted on the Frankfort Chamber and Frankfort Tourist Commission website for maximum exposure. The Capital Visitor is the only official visitors’ guide published as a member service to promote the Frankfort Area. The publication includes a handy locator map and a directory listing of tourism related businesses along with public attractions such as historic sites and government buildings. This is in addition to our well-established physical distribution locations as follows:
- Distributed to visitors at more than 100 locations while they are here in Frankfort.
- Included in the in-room guest services guides of Frankfort area hotels.
- Distributed at five state operated Welcome Centers on north and south bound I-65,
east and west bound I-64, and north bound I-65.
- Distributed at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington and Louisville International Airport.
- Distributed at regional tourist destination sites in the central Kentucky area.
- Mailed to more than 30,000 people and organizations that have requested information
prior to their visit to Frankfort.
- Hand delivered to groups when they arrive in Frankfort throughout the year.
LOBBY SERVICES - As a member of the Chamber, you are entitled to put your business cards and any company-related brochures on display in our lobby. All visitors are encouraged to browse the lobby and take any materials on display.
RIBBON CUTTING - After your new business joins the Chamber we will schedule a ribbon cutting at your request We will bring the large scissors, ribbon and camera, notify all Ambassadors, and the General Membership via Chamber E-News, and we will send you a copy of the pictures.
CHAMBER NEWS - We will provide you with our weekly E-News by e-mail, fax or mail to keep you informed of all Chamber news and functions for the upcoming weeks. Chamber newsletters are sent out monthly.
BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER – The Frankfort Chamber Business Resource Centers has a collection of books, audio cassettes and tapes, and hosts a variety of magazines all geared toward building a successful business. The resource center is open to Chamber members only.
CHAMBER RECOMMENDATIONS - We are a member-oriented organization; therefore, we only refer our members. We get hundreds of calls from all over the country from people looking for business or service information.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES - Business Network Luncheons, Business after Hours, committee meetings and social events offer you an opportunity to introduce yourself and your business, network with other members of the Chamber to both socialize and make business contacts.
MAILING LABELS - Our complete membership is available to you in two ways: mailing labels in zip code order, or on hard copy. Member cost is $25.00, non-members pay $200.00.
WEBSITE - Anyone can log on to our website at www.frankfortky.info and find a categorical listing of our membership. We recommend that your website be hyper-linked to ours to make it easy for users to easily access your website. In 2007 the Frankfort Chamber averaged well over 35,000 hits per month. Also, banner ads are available to our members at very affordable rates. Chamber members may also link to the Membership Directory portion of the Chamber site for $35 a Year!
GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY - The Chamber is your business advocate on the local, regional, and state level with action plans and communications with local elected and appointed officials and with legislators on key issues important to the community.
BUSINESS PROMOTION - People do business with people they know. That’s why our marketing and networking opportunities make it possible for our members to improve visibility, build a network of customers and suppliers, and grow their business. Reinforce your message to the membership through a variety of Chamber marketing opportunities.
ADVERTISING - Chamber News (monthly newsletter), Relocation/Newcomers Guide and Membership Directory, Annual Report, Capital Visitors Guide, detailed city/county maps, clubs and organizations listings, and manufacturers guide are just some of the items produced by the Chamber to promote members. Chamber Blast member wide e-mail has also been developed to keep members and the community up to date on Chambers happenings and issues affecting business.
BUSINESS PROFILE - Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce is calling on Frankfort Chamber of Commerce members who would like to SPOTLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS. Open to Chamber members in good standing only, this opportunity allows members to promote their business to potential clients and customers in a ½ page article FREE of charge once a year. As another service to our members the Frankfort Chamber has partnered with Vicki Pettus, VMP Writing Services to assist your business in getting your best possible story in front of our readers. Vicki will give you a call, make an appointment for interview and then write your business story.
BUSINESS IMAGE ENHANCEMENT - Consumer surveys have shown that customers’ perceptions are enhanced by chamber membership. Membership decals and the Chamber logo for advertising are free to members in good standing.
EMPLOYMENT LISTING - The Frankfort Chamber website offers members the opportunity to post employment openings in their company at no charge. There is no limit to the number of employment opportunities a member can post on the Chamber site. This service is FREE to Chamber members in good standing.
PROPERTY LISTINGS -Chamber members in the real estate services business may list their available rentals, leasing and sales on the Chamber website at no additional fee. Members can link directly to their site for more visibility and offer a photo of their available property.
COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR-Area organizations can post their events on the Community Events calendar available at www.frankfortky.info or by calling the Frankfort Chamber, free of charge.
MEMBER TO MEMBER DISCOUNTS -It’s true! Many of our members shop for products and services from ONLY Frankfort Chamber members. Throughout the year, member to member business discounts enable you to find the quality services you need. In 2010 the Chamber provided over 5,000 member to member discount cards to Chamber members and their employees. The Chamber Member to Member Discount Program continues to increase in value each day. Check out our online M2M discount listing at www.frankfortky.info under Membership Directory/Member to Member discounts.
OUR BENEFITS REALLY ADD UP- INTRODUCING CAPITAL PLAN PLUS-Business owners face challenges every day, especially when it comes to running their companies as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Frankfort Chamber is here to help. Membership in Frankfort Chamber truly has its benefits…Capital Plan Plus offers an affordable association benefits plan by United Healthcare.
- Health, Dental, Life, Vision, STD, LTD, and LTC benefits available
- Discounts pricing exclusively for Chamber members
- Designed for employer groups with 2 or more employees
- Ask about our rate guarantees
The Frankfort Chamber has developed partnership with United Healthcare. This company specializes in employee benefit products and has endorsed this new Chamber discount for health, dental, and vision insurance. This exciting new Chamber program is just beginning, and would like to ask that you allow us to prove to you that these companies can compete with your current carrier. If you are currently covered by United Healthcare, you may be eligible for the Chamber discount.
OFFICE DEPOT SAVINGS-The Chamber has partnered with Office Depot to offer your business cost savings on office supplies and materials. This program is offered to Chamber members in good standing and provides a saving in their bottom-line spending. To apply for this program, please call the Chamber office.
SECRET SHOPPER PROGRAM-The Secret Shopper Program is designed to monitor, review and report on business performance during a shopping experience, along with reviewing customer service techniques. This service is FREE to Chamber members who are reviewing their business via customer experience.
BUY LOCAL FRANKFORT PROGRAM-Shop local Frankfort is a cooperative effort of the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce and forever Communications Frankfort. Thanks to the combination of three (3) live and local radio stations with the drive and focus of the Frankfort Chamber, Frankfort business now have a powerful marketing resource to turn to when growth is essential. The Shop Local Frankfort Program can help business owners reach a minimum of 59,000 Frankfort area residents, both on radio and online. For more information on this program, please contact the Frankfort Chamber.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NETWORK-The Small Business Council networks and assists the Chamber in issues that face small businesses. In 2008 the Frankfort Chamber and our partners published “Doing Business in Frankfort” publication. This publication provides information on how to start a business in Frankfort. The publication is free and available at the Chamber office. The Chamber continues to improve ways we can assist Small Business owners through online small business class listings to monthly small business networking meetings.
SMALL BUSINESS-MENTORING GROUP-The Frankfort Chamber Mentoring Group will assist small business with an Email Assistance Program. Our mentoring group will be represented by Accountants, Financial Services, Attorney’s, Community Ventures and small business owners, which will answer questions on an as need basis at no charge. Small business owners may send an email to the Chamber office pertaining to their business, as an example: if you have a question on your 1099 or W-2’s or Unemployment question, you can send the question(s) to our office; the Chamber staff will send out an email to our Mentoring Group, who will answer the question; we will then send the question, along with the answer to all Small Businesses in Frankfort/Franklin County.
KENTUCKY RETAIL FEDERATION PARTNERSHIP-The Frankfort Chamber is partnering with the KY Retail Federation, a statewide trade association that represents over 6,000 retailers throughout the Commonwealth. This partnership is specifically aimed at providing services that Frankfort-Area retailers need to succeed in today’s challenging business climate. The partnership provides Chamber members with an opportunity to access many of the benefits offered to Kentucky Retail Federation members.
ONE MINUTE COMMERCIAL-about your business as a link on the Membership Directory Page. If your business provides the Chamber with a YouTube commercial, we will upload it to the Chamber site at no additional charge – we will also send out a Chamber E-News blast introducing your commercial.
FACEBOOK LINK-Does your business have a Facebook page – we are now able to link your Facebook page at no additional charge as well for Chamber members. This is a great way to announce specials, promotions, and keep up to date with happenings in Frankfort all at a click of a button.