McAllen Chamber Small Business Services Add Value
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It’s the bottom line that counts with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and the assistance the chamber provides to regional small businesses is helping its 1,750 members see black.
“We focus on creating wealth and adding value,” says Steve Ahlenius, president and CEO of the chamber for the past 12 years. “If we can do those two things for our members, we’re going to be successful.”
That’s more than just chamber-speak, as the McAllen chamber has created grants programs, small business competitions, hands-on counseling strategies and match-making services that are making a difference for chamber members.
“Three things we focus on at the chamber are creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation,” Ahlenius says. “That’s our over-arching theme with the chamber. The board, several years ago, determined that we needed to start setting aside resources to help fund these things. In the 21st century, you can’t just pay lip service; you’ve got to go out and make it happen. We have put funding into it with small business and innovation grants.”
Each year, the chamber awards up to five $10,000 innovation grants. The newest competitive grant program awards one established small business up to $25,000. Candidates submit a business plan that is reviewed by a five-member panel, requesting a specific amount and fully justifying the request.
John Nix was presented the first small business grant award, which was used to develop a web site for his business, Water 2 Wine, a micro-winery where customers can make their own wine and create their own labels, or buy wines that Nix and his staff develop.
“The funding from the chamber for our web site helped gain awareness from the community and served as a catalyst to get us up and running in the early stages,” Nix says. “The response has been really good, and the business is doing well. The programs the chamber provides have really helped us and other businesses.”
In addition to the grants, the chamber dedicates several of its 25 staff members – many of whom have worked for the Small Business Development Council—to small business counseling. “They know how to do business counseling, and they work with chamber members on issues affecting their businesses,” Ahlenius says, adding that the chamber also works with the local community college on small business competitions, awarding almost $2,000 a year for submitted business plans.
“Our board is committed to this,” he says. “They recognize that 90 percent of our members are small businesses. For us, it’s the sweet spot. It’s where our focus needs to be and where our board is committing resources. We want our programs to foster those who want to start a business, so we’re growing our own. That’s how we’re going to create jobs. We love to get those companies that will bring 250 jobs, but those are few and far between.”
Story by Betsy Williams
