Mission

The mission of the Strawn Chamber of Commerce is to advance and promote a progressive economic environment for business, to advocate responsive government and quality education and to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Strawn and the surrounding area, while preserving the positive, unique community characteristics of Strawn, Palo Pinto County & the region.

To accomplish this mission, the Strawn Chamber of Commerce shall adhere to these guidelines:

• Encourage business and community prosperity by promoting economic programs designed to strengthen and enhance the financial opportunities for all businesses in Strawn and the surrounding areas.
• Serve as an effective non-partisan, non-sectarian voice for business & members on legislative, business, social, governmental, educational and community issues affecting Strawn, Palo Pinto County and the region.
• Identify and overcome obstacles that are detrimental to the business climate and community growth.
• Support civic, social, educational and cultural programs designed to increase the functional and aesthetic values of the community.
• Promote life long learning.

2014/2015 Strawn Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

The Strawn Chamber Board of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month, at 5:00 pm, at the Chamber conference room (located in the Wellness Center).

• Tina Spakes, President
• Shanah Coe, Vice-President
• Lou Jones, Secretary/Treasurer
• Jeff Hinkson, Immediate Past-President
• Bert Williams
• Roy Kurban
• Brandy Sizemore
• Susan Hurley
• Shanah Coe
• Diana Hinkson
• Alan Alison

Anyone interested in volunteering or serving on the Board, please contact the Chamber at 254-595-0197.

Staff

• Georgia Braun, Executive Director
• Diana Hinkson, Communication Director

Projects & Actions

In June 2012, during Strawn's biennial Ex-Teachers/Ex-Students Homecoming event, a small group of locals met to discuss ways to hold an annual event that would draw people to Strawn. Recognizing that the future Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is a huge economic opportunity for not only Strawn but the surrounding region, it was determined that Strawn's needs were much greater than simply hosting an annual event. In August and later in October 2012, a group of Strawn business owners, civic leaders and concerned citizens met and voted to move forward with the creation of the Strawn Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber selected an interim Board of Directors that served through December 2013 at which time, an elected Board was seated.

In 2.5 years, the Chamber has accomplished a tremendous amount for the city, its businesses & citizens and for our Members. The Chamber, its Members and numerous volunteers, have racked up an impressive list of accomplishments such as:

• Elected Chamber Board
• Renovated and opened new Chamber Office and Board Room
• Published The Strawn Advocate newsletter (monthly since 2012)
• Developed new Chamber logo
• Designed/Installed I-20 Billboard
• Published an area-wide Marketing Mailer (sent to 3500 area residents)
• Developed a joint website for the Chamber, Booster Club, DCOS, Strawn Museum, and Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Partners
• Launched new Facebook page for Chamber and Historical Museum
• Welcomed three new downtown businesses
• Designed and co-sponsored tourism ad in TMCN publication
• Placed 3rd in statewide Governor's Community Achievement Awards program
• Initiated first ever Texas Forts Trail local marketing initiative promoting local Strawn businesses
• Developed comprehensive Strawn Alumni List
• Coordinating & Facilitating funding advocacy efforts for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Lead purchase & installation of:

• Downtown Holiday lights
• US & Texas flags (Displayed each Friday)
• Downtown landscaping & planters

Coordinated & Produced:

• Merry Hometown Christmas Parade & Chili Supper (2012, 2013, 2014)
• Bash-on-the-Bricks Festival (2013 & 2014)
• 2013 & 2014 Texas Trash-Off (i.e. town clean-up)
• Sponsored Strawn Angel Tree Program (2013, 2014)
• Coordinated Vial of Life Initiative

Facilitated memberships in:

• Keep Texas Beautiful & earned Gold Level Membership 2014, 2015
• Texas Midwest Community Network
• Texas Forts Trail
• Friends of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Facilitated Numerous Landscaping/Cleanup Projects:

• Pruned trees at Post Office and around Museum/City Park
• Planted wildflowers along railroad Greenbelt
• Spearheading efforts to clean & renovate the historic Strawn City Hall and City Auditorium
• Landscaped & installed fountain on downtown corner lot
• Xeriscaped area along North Main between railroad crossings
• Sponsored Strawn Spring Clean Fling Contest
• New carpet for Pavilion Stage
• Cleaned windows on all downtown buildings
• Cleaned City Pavilion building
• Removed brush/weeds/debris from around downtown buildings
• Re-stained downtown wooden benches
• Purchased & installed over 30 concrete and colored planters in downtown area

Partnered with the following Organizations:

• City of Strawn
• Development Corporation of Strawn (DCOS)
• Strawn Booster Club
• Strawn Historical Association & Museum
• Downtown businesses to purchase new colored planters
• Palo Pinto County Historical Association
• 1G Youth Group
• Girl Scout Troup #8432
• Strawn Lion's Club
• The Native Plant Society of Texas
• C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue
• W.K. Gordon Museum
• Tarleton Horticultural Center
• Texas Forts Trail
• Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN)
• Texas Parks & Wildlife
• TXDoT
• Texas State Naturalist
• Microplex News
• Strawn ISD
• Perri Leavelle Design
• Bennett's Printing
• Pro Epic web design
• Western Advertising
• Lake Country Sun
• Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce
• KATX 97.7 (Eastland)
• Crawford, Carter, Thompson & Durbin, LLC CPA's
• Keep Texas Beautiful

Participation

We have much to be proud of, but there is much more we could and should be doing to improve and promote Strawn and its businesses. However, we can't achieve these things without the support of area businesses, Strawn Alum and Fans of Strawn.

Chamber Membership is open to any reputable person, sole-proprietor, association, corporation, partnership, non-profit or estate with an interest in seeing Strawn progress, thrive and grow. For the next few years, the Chamber must rely primarily on Membership dues, so support from our Members is crucial. We believe that our efforts, our hard work and our achievements over the course of the last 2.5 years prove that the Chamber is a good investment for you and for Strawn.

Please take a moment to download & complete the Membership Form and return to us along with the applicable payment.

And stay tuned... We've got more good things to come!