The Chamber is Turning 100!

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau
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Celebrating the Chamber's 100th Anniversary with Enthusiasm!

Chamber Centennial Celebration
2019 is a big year for the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce: We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary.
 
On September 29, 1919, the Chamber – then the Urbana Chamber of Commerce – was established following a motion by Urbana Mayor George Talbott at a meeting in the Community Club.
 
The front-page headline in the October 1, 1919, Urbana Daily Citizen proclaimed: “Urbana's Chamber of Commerce Comes into Being With Enthusiasm”.
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The Chamber’s 25-member board of directors unanimously elected Ralph McDonald, of the Urbana Tool and Die Company, president. The Daily Citizen reported, “He has been a booster for the city ever since the foundation of the Urbana Tool and Die Company, and in the recent Chamber of Commerce campaign he led the force of workers who so successfully piled up the membership.”
 
John L.  Jackson (referred to as “the shoe man”) was elected vice president; Core S. Ireland, secretary; and Dr. T.T.  Brand (“who was active in booming the membership drive”), treasurer.  
 
The article concluded: “We welcome the Chamber of Commerce into the life of our city. It has long been needed to handle our many difficulties. Unity among industries and businessmen has been lacking. The Chamber of Commerce will change all this, and every merchant, manufacturer and businessman will pull together on the same rope to raise Urbana to the high level of a booster town.”
 
And ever since, the Chamber has been here to support and strengthen local businesses, to help make Champaign County a better place to live, work and enjoy community.
 
We’ll be celebrating throughout the year, and we’ll be inviting you and the rest of Champaign County to join us in celebrating with enthusiasm. Be on the lookout for upcoming 100th anniversary events.  
 
The same article reported on one of the Chamber’s first orders of business: meeting with a representative of the Riddle and Graff Cigar Company, which was interested in establishing a factory in  Urbana.
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce logo
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Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
127 W. Court Street, Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 653-5764 
Email: info@champaignohio.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9.a.m.-4 p.m.
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  • Home
  • Membership
    • 2022 Year in Review
    • Best of Champaign County
    • Members
    • Membership Info
    • Member Benefits >
      • Champaign County Business Advantage Program
    • Join the Chamber
    • Chamber Events
    • Annual Dinner
    • Annual Golf Outing
  • Get Involved
    • Chamber Night at the Races
    • Local Ag Council
    • iLead: Young Professionals
    • Leadership Champaign County
    • Lunch & Learn
    • Safety Council >
      • Safety Council Enrollment Form
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Live
    • Government
    • Homes & Real Estate
    • Education
    • Health Care
  • Work
    • Business & Industry
    • Agriculture & Farming
    • Economic Development
  • Play
    • Champaign County Arts
    • Festivals & Events
    • Gloria Theatre
    • Dining >
      • Carry Out/Delivery Menus
    • Shop Local
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Stay
    • Accommodations
  • Things To Do
    • Community Calendar
    • Places to Visit
    • Submit an Event
    • Self-Guided Scioto Street Tour
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Online Gift Store
  • Contact
    • About Us
    • Join Our Team
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • History >
      • 100th Anniversary