MISSION: The Gas City Area Chamber is dedicated to strengthening member businesses, education, and community involvement in order to stimulate growth and a positive image within our local economy.
VISION: To strengthen and cultivate an inclusive community where businesses thrive and people want to live.
HISTORY: In December of 1991, after being elected to the Gas City Common Council, Jim Spurgeon invited a group of local business owners to consider meeting to organize a chamber of commerce. On January 23, 1992, this group of business people gathered with the express purpose of forming a chamber of commerce to benefit the Mill Township business community.
This group of business people consisted of the following: Gary Banter (Star Financial Bank), John Briles * (American Family Insurance), Lisa Ellis * (Fidelity Federal Savings Bank), Nancy Hoover * (Summit Bank), Jackie Ingle * (Jackie’s Restaurant), Kevin Jacks (Twin City Auto Body), Rob Knapp * (George’s Flowers), Dave Owen (Owen’s Hardware), Cindy Payne * (Twin City Journal-Reporter), Dennis Roach * (State Farm Insurance), Mark Storey * (Needham-Storey Funeral Services), Jim Ulerick (Mike Anderson Chevrolet-Geo) and Karen Wood * (Walt Wood Real Estate). (* Denotes members of the Steering Committee.)
On February 13, 1992, the Steering Committee issued a report to the Core Leadership recommending the following:
Approval of the Name: Gas City Area Chamber of Commerce
Interim Leadership Be Approved
Approval of a Mission Statement
Approval of a Membership Fee Structure
Approval of Proposed By-Laws
Approval of an Interim Budget
Approval of General Meeting to Formally Create the Chamber.
On Thursday, February 27, 1992 a general meeting was hosted by the Core Leadership at Hontz Hall in Gas City and the Gas City Area Chamber of Commerce was officially formed. By the April 1st deadline, there were 104 businesses and organizations that formed the Charter Members of the Gas City Area Chamber of Commerce. The following officers were elected by those attending: Dennis Roach, President; Karen Wood, Vice President; Lisa Ellis, Secretary; Jackie Ingle, Treasurer.
The Gas City Area Chamber of Commerce office is currently on the second floor of the historic Thompson-Ray House, 407 E Main Street, Gas City, Indiana.