Sixty-five years ago, a group of Ellettsville businessmen and women gathered at Sharpie’s Restaurant to revitalize the dormant Businessmen’s Association, which had been inactive since 1954. This pivotal meeting laid the foundation for what would become the Greater Ellettsville Area Chamber of Commerce.
On Thursday, July 21, 1960, Robert J. Chaffin, a cashier at Peoples State Bank, was elected as the first president of the newly established Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce. By Dec. 7 of that year, the Chamber had grown to include seven board members, 12 committees and 31 members.
The Chamber’s purpose was clear: to promote progress and the general business welfare of the community, encourage the establishment of new businesses and industries, uphold high ethical standards in business, and support initiatives of civic and community significance. The organization believed that fulfilling this mission would benefit every citizen.
Ellettsville Chamber in 2024: It’s Your Business: Collaboration strengthens communities in Monroe County and beyond
Today, the Greater Ellettsville Area Chamber of Commerce has grown to include more than 130 members, continuing its legacy of fostering growth and opportunity in the community.
Christa Curtis, vice president of marketing and communications for Cook Medical and Chamber board president, stated, “As Ellettsville and the Chamber grow, we recognize the need to continually evolve and improve to meet the needs of our members and our community.”
In January 2024, our volunteer board of directors convened for a strategic planning retreat to develop a two-year plan centered on five key pillars:
-
Maintaining fiscal and operational excellence
-
Driving member benefits and value
-
Developing our people resources
-
Supporting new business attraction
-
Engaging key stakeholders
Last year, we hosted over 20 events to bring this plan to life, including two collaborative efforts with other Monroe County organizations: the Stormwater Ordinance Panel and the County Development Ordinance Review.
One of our highlights was hosting Indiana’s Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner, at Ellettsville Town Hall. She shared her vision for the future of education in Indiana and insights into building tomorrow’s workforce.
We also organized various successful events, including the annual golf scramble, which will occur again on May 13, 2025, and our annual Picnic in the Park. We introduced our first Coffee Connection at the Coffee Corral at Edgewood High School. We partnered with the Ellettsville Fire Department for a Smoke Detector Blitz, resulting in the installation of 22 smoke alarms. At our annual meeting, we partnered with Edge Media from Edgewood Junior High to create videos highlighting our award winners.
About Ellettsville: Tech park? Or noisy, thirsty server farm? Southern Indiana officials’ plans getting pushback
Our nine power luncheons provided members networking opportunities and expert insights from speakers like Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane Commander Luis Martinez and Ivy Tech Chancellor Erik Coyne. Additionally, we hosted an exclusive discussion panel focused on Ellettsville’s future, offering updates on Envision Ellettsville, town growth, the County Development Ordinance, Monroe County population trends, and the potential benefits of Tax Increment Financing (TIF).
To better understand our members’ needs, we partnered with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business to create an online survey and plan focus groups aimed at gathering feedback to shape our programming.
We remain committed to hosting events that foster connections, build relationships and support business growth. As our founding members envisioned in 1960, our members’ success continues to be at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we provide meaningful benefits and opportunities for our community.
Learn more about the Greater Ellettsville Chamber Area of Commerce at EllettsvilleChamber.org.
Jill Thurman is office administrator with the Greater Ellettsville Area Chamber of Commerce.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Ellettsville Chamber’s strategic plan for growth Crane NSA Ivy Tech