Our Investors

The Partnership

The Chamber’s five-year initiative for 2024-2028, known as “The Partnership: Working Together, Achieving More," is a community and business development strategy where the Board of Directors and teams of business leaders focus on making strides in three critical areas: business and industry-driven workforce development and recruitment, pro-business and industry advocacy and community betterment and business and industry growth and retention.

The plan seamlessly builds upon the accomplishments of our preceding five-year initiative, “The Partnership: Today, Tomorrow, Together." It focused on residential development, regional partnerships and community image, business and industry-driven talent development and recruitment and business and industry partnerships with education.

Investor Benefits

The following benefits are available to "The Partnership" investors in the all six levels of investment:

Director of Investor Relations will actively engage with you to ensure we are delivering your ROI
VIP invitations to investor-only events/meeting
Access to Chamber senior staff to address issues important to your business/organization

Thank You to our Partners

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Strategic Partners

Diamond Investors

Platinum Investors

Gold Investors

Alabama Farmers Cooperative

Bank Independent

Cintas Corporation

Cook’s Pest Control

Corporate Billing, LLC

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.

Parker Real Estate, LLC

TTL, Inc.

United Community Bank

Silver Investors

Bramlett GMC Kia

Byrd, Smalley & Adams, P.C.

Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED)

Gobble-Fite Lumber Co., Inc.

Goodwyn Mills & Cawood

Harris, Caddell & Shanks, P.C.

Hubbard & Drake General – Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

Lynn Layton Chevrolet - Ford - Cadillac - Nissan

M & D Mechanical Contractors

Magnolia River Services, Inc.

MarMac Real Estate

MeritHouse Realty

Peoples Bank of Alabama

Toray Composite Materials America, Inc.

Wear Howell

Bronze Investors

Access Real Estate

Alabama Credit Union

Edward Jones - Terry White

J.T. Ray Company

King Insurance Agency

River Bank & Trust

Investor History

The Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce began its first community and business development strategy in 1992, when the Chamber and several area businesses and industries made an investment into the future of Morgan County and Decatur in a program called “The Cornerstone Partnership." Investors made a three-year financial commitment to actively create a highly-skilled available workforce, address public policy issues and improve the city to attract new industries and commercial development.

Over the past 20 years, our initiatives have been successful because of the dedicated investors who have given financial support above their annual dues. If you are ready to make a bigger impact on the community and would like to know more about the program, contact us at (256) 353-5312.

Achievements

Established and maintained strong relationships with local, state and federal legislators

Washington Fly-In and Montgomery Trips

Led the initiative for passage of several key bills positively impacting the business community

Impacted changes in transportation

Successfully negotiated with Huntsville International Airport to add direct daily flights to Denver for the benefit of United Launch Alliance (ULA), formed by the merger of Lockheed Martin and Boeing
Successful lobbying of $8.6 million of federal funding for Highway 20 improvements (2008)
Widening of Beltline Road / Highway 67
Led effort to secure $9.6 million in federal funds for I-565 West extension (2003-2006)
Veterans Parkway
Interbasin Transfer
Atlanta to Memphis Highway (portion in Morgan County)
Led the effort to raise $1,000,000 in federal funding for Pryor Field Airport improvements (2006)

Successfully recruited several new retail projects, generating millions of dollars in annual retail sales:

Led efforts in improving community image and attracting new residents

A successful endeavor outlined in The Cornerstone Partnership (2001-2006) Downtown Revitalization (LDR Study), has led to discussions with Calhoun Community College for a downtown presence
Business leaders were given the opportunity to see successful downtown redevelopment projects during intercity visits in Greenville, South Carolina and Paducah, Kentucky.
Lead agency for Morgan County BRAC Initiative (2003 – Present)
Led effort to secure $500,000 in federal funds for Ingalls Harbor project (2005)

Provided funding for workforce development programs

Developed one of Alabama’s leading workforce and education initiatives, partnering with Decatur City Schools and Calhoun Community College (1991-Present)
Invited to the U.S. Department of Labor "Summit on the 21st Century Workforce" in 2001 and recognized by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao as one of the best workforce development programs in the nation.
Between 700-1,000 area high school students attend each annual Career and Workforce Expo, providing area businesses the opportunity to promote areas of workforce need and recruit future employees.
The Leader in Me, a public-private venture between the Chamber, Decatur City Schools, government and business entities, will be implemented in Decatur City Elementary Schools as the first pilot project in the United States. The program was created by Franklin Covey and is patterned after the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” philosophy.
Companies in the Classroom, which gives business professionals “face to face” time with high schools students, has been successfully implemented in West Morgan High School (2007) and Falkville High School (2008).
Started Project Blueprint to encourage more minority Chamber members to become involved on the board of directors, committees and panels of nonprofit agencies.
Established the Summer Welding & Electrical Technology Camp for Girls (SWeETy Camp) to provide hands-on technical experience for girls and encourage more women to choose technical professions.