Business Resources
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Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce is “to promote and support community betterment and business development.”
The Chamber holds open meetings for members once every other month—at noon on the first Tuesday of the month. Locations change based on availability and hosting.
Who Can Belong?
Any individual, business institution, or corporation can be a member and participate in all Chamber activities. Dues are required by the Chamber in order to carry out its programming.
Click below to download a Chamber brochure or a current listing of Chamber members.
To review the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce Bylaws please click below. For additional information, email cambridgechamber1@gmail.com.
Chamber Board of Directors
Jolene Miller, President
Zach Nelson, President Elect
Heather Banzhaf, Treasurer
Abby Schulte, Secretary
Jill Goodwin
Lizzie Johnson
Mackenzie Jones
Evan Jones
Krista Sayer
CPS: Jarod Albers
Economic Development:
Melissa Jackson
Plug Into Cambridge
We have a thriving community here with many work and play opportunities. We are passionate about maintaining our great community. One of the very core strengths of Cambridge is our volunteer base, they are a gift to our community. We invite you to explore the brochure below and find a way for you to plug into something bigger than yourself, meet people, grow in your personal development, and just enjoy life by giving.
Research shows that volunteering:
1. Benefits Society
2. Gives People a Greater Sense of Purpose
3. Creates Opportunities and Personal Development
4. Builds Relationships and Networking
Information above comes from www.psychologytoday.com
We hope that you consider the opportunities to plug into Cambridge and make a difference in the world.
Chamber Sponsored Events
The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce sponsors several activities and events throughout the year. Some of these include:
- Medicine Creek Days & Parade
- Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
- Volunteer of the Year Award
- Halloween Trick-or-Treating Event
- Christmas Promotions
- Holiday Open House
- New Business &
Resident Welcome Packets - Various Retail Promotions
- Vendor Fair
- Chamber mixers
- Education opportunities
- Night market
- Social media promotions
- Chamber Bucks
For questions or more information, email cambridgechamber1@gmail.com.
- Medicine Creek Days & Parade
- Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
- Volunteer of the Year Award
- Halloween Trick-or-Treating Event
- Christmas Promotions
- Holiday Open House
- New Business &
Resident Welcome Packets - Various Retail Promotions
- Vendor Fair
- Chamber mixers
- Education opportunities
- Night market
- Social media promotions
- Chamber Bucks
For questions or more information, email cambridgechamber1@gmail.com.
Other Resources
The Chamber and Economic Development would like to make educational resources available to all businesses in Cambridge. Click on the links below to learn more.
Canva Training
In this training, we show you how to create your own custom graphics to use for your business, especially on social media.
Leadership Training Opportunity
The “Stay” Interview
Economic Development Business Support
The Cambridge Economic Development Board is dedicated to helping businesses in the city succeed and grow. Toward that end, the Board offers several opportunities, including new-business incentives, educational opportunities, matching grants for improvements to business facades, and revolving loans to help new or existing local business owners with anything from operating costs to expansion, relocating in the city, or remodeling.
Business Exterior Enhancement Program
This program offers 75% matching funds up to $10,000 to individual business and building owners in Cambridge who want to improve the appearance and quality of their building and, in turn, improve the overall look and feel of Cambridge.
The goal of this program is to encourage and support property owners, both in terms of design and financing, to restore or renovate a commercial-building façade. Improvements must occur in areas visible from the public way and must be approved by the Cambridge Planning Commission and City Council.
Beyond the physical and aesthetic business improvements that are a direct result of this matching-grant program, exterior improvements make good economic and business sense for property and business owners. Façade renovations improve property values and help attract new customers.
Who Can Apply?
The building owner can apply for the funding if it is located within the one-mile extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City of Cambridge. The Economic Development Board gives higher priority to projects that use local contractors.
These façade grants are designed to help business owners and operators fund projects that otherwise would not be funded. Applicants who have already taken advantage of the program may apply again for a different project and can have only one grant per City calendar year.
Submit your application to the Economic Development office at the City office, or via email to CambEconDev@gmail.com.
Revolving Loans
Helping Cambridge Businesses Thrive
The Cambridge Economic Development Board has a revolving-loan fund to help local businesses thrive. The Board awards low-interest loans to business owners or operators who present compelling business proposals.
Emphasis is placed on proposals that build on local resources, including, but not limited to, agricultural products, telecommunications infrastructure, health-care resources, tourism development, and specialty skills, such as arts and crafts. A key goal is to fund projects that address the out-migration of young people from the area by providing jobs that keep them home or bring them back to Cambridge. Both new-business proposals and plans for expansion of existing businesses are considered.
Loans are available up to $20,000, with associated projects requiring equity injection from the business of at least 10% of the total project. The interest rate is 0.5% below prime rate at the time, and loan terms must not exceed the useful life of the assets financed. Generally, working capital is 1 to 3 years, machinery and equipment 3 to 7 years, land and buildings up to 15 years. Past recipients include Huskerfields, Cappel Chiropractic, and the Clarion, each providing unique business services to the community.
If you’re interested in applying for a revolving business loan, download and complete this information sheet and application, then submit via email to CambEconDev@gmail.com.
Internship Grants
The goal of the Cambridge Economic Development Board’s internship-grant program is to help educate youth at local jobs, encouraging them to stay in Cambridge or return here to work after college.
Grants of up to $1,000 in matching funds are paid to businesses in the 69022 zip code that successfully apply to the Economic Development Board for them. Internships must pay at least the federal minimum wage for at least 240 hours. Grant funds are paid when the internship is complete, including an essay from the intern and a form of completion and review from the employer.
The program connects high-school and college students with local employers, providing a unique opportunity for the students to gain valuable business experience and begin developing into tomorrow’s leaders. Internships create lasting connections between students and the community; more than 50% of interns become full-time employees at their place of internship, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
To apply for an internship grant, download these documents:
Submit applications to the economic-development director at CambEconDev@gmail.com.