Member BenefitsI. Networking
IV. Economic & Community Development
VI. Special New Member Benefits
VII. Ways We Keep You Informed
Bread and Butter Monthly Networking Opportunities:
To fit into your busy schedule throughout the year, the Livonia Chamber of Commerce offers you convenient networking opportunities during breakfast, lunch or dinner. These monthly networking events attract between 50-100 people ready to make new business contacts. Each month the chamber usually hosts at least two networking opportunities.
Wake Up Livonia:
Wake Up Livonia is a lively, fast paced breakfast series that combines networking with a breakfast featuring an interesting speaker. Business and community leaders often frequent this event because of the caliber of speakers and quality of networking.
Morning Network:
Each attendee has the opportunity to present a thirty second commercial about their business. Since everyone learns about each other's business, attendees can then target the people they want to meet at the breakfast following the presentations.
Power Networking Lunch:
This event features forty-five minutes of networking, followed by a lunch where at the tables people discuss a meaningful business topic. During the last half hour, an expert will facilitate a discussion with the audience on the topics discussed at the table.
Five O'clock Connections:
Every other month from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. this is the place Livonia businesses meet. Members exchange business cards in a relaxed and entertaining setting. The events always include great food and some type of activity to make sure everyone meets plenty of new business contacts.
Signature Annual Events
Livonia Business Expo:
This is Livonia 's largest and most popular business event each year in Livonia with over 1,000 attendees and 60 exhibitors. In addition to the trade show there are seminars, breakfast and lunch programs plus the Taste of Livonia that features many favorite local restaurants.
Commercial Pavilion at Livonia Spree: June
The Chamber will be hosting the Spree Expo for businesses to display information about their company. With tens of thousands of people attending the Spree on Saturday each year, this venue will provide the perfect opportunity for members to reach out directly to the general public to promote their business.
Livonia Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing: July
Held at beautiful Whispering Willows Golf Course, this annual outing sells out each year. With a festive atmosphere, many attendees feel the Chamber outing is the most fun they have playing golf all year. For companies looking to showcase their business, sponsorships at the outing provide the opportunity to be on the course to greet golfers at the tee box with promotional material.
Awards and Leadership Celebration:
A luncheon is held to present awards to leading businesses and citizens in the community.
State of the City: March
The Mayor of Livonia revues the past year in the city and what is planned for the future.
Over 300 community and business leaders attend this event every year.
Through membership there are many fantastic promotional opportunities to get your company in front of potential customers.
Chamber Web Site
Visitors to the Chamber Web site can search for companies by name or business category to look for goods and services. Members can further highlight their business by purchasing an enhanced listing.
Membership Directory
Members are listed both alphabetically and by business category in the Chamber's Business Directory and Area Profile. Aside from the 800 Chamber members who receive the guide, over 2,500 copies are printed and distributed through the Chamber's Welcome Center.
Medical/Dental Guide & Entertainment and Restaurant Guide
To help promote our members, the Chamber has created specialty guides. These specialty guides are distributed through the Chamber's Welcome center to new residents, visitors, new Chamber members and others in the community.
Member-to-Member Benefits
Each week the Chamber includes the listing of Member-to-Member benefits in our weekly email. These include special offers members make to fellow members. By adding an offer to the program, your business will be creating new marketing opportunities.
Business Referrals
The Chamber of Commerce gives hundreds of business referrals each year from phone calls, online requests, and people coming to the Chamber Welcome Center . Many people contact the Chamber for referrals because they feel the best companies in the community are members.
New Resident Welcome Kits
Since new residents are heavy purchasers of goods and services when first moving, the Chamber makes a special effort to encourage them to use member companies. Each month the Chamber mails a postcard to new homeowners providing them the opportunity to pick up a welcome kit from the Chamber filled with promotional material, advertisements and coupons provided by member firms, along with maps and directories.
New Member Welcome Kits
To welcome new Chamber members, we distribute a package of promotional material from member firms. This is a great way to encourage fellow members to use your products and services.
Consumer's Directory
For new residents and others in the community, the Chamber publishes a directory of members who provide services for the general public. The guides are mailed to new residents each month.
Display Marketing Materials in the Welcome Center
The Chamber's Welcome Center is filled with promotional material from member firms which is picked up by members, visitors and residents.
Marketing List:
Members can get one free member addresses on disk or through e-mail.
Newsletter and Membership Directory Advertising/Sponsorships/Directory Advertising/Enhanced Web Listing
There are a host of opportunities available
for members to purchase additional exposure to profile their business.
Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance:
By combing the resources of Chamber members, the Livonia Chamber of
Commerce is able to offer Blue Cross Blue Shield traditional coverage
or Blue Care Network Insurance to businesses of all sizes. Sole-proprietors
can only purchase BCBSM group health insurance by going through a Chamber
sponsored program. There are also other exclusive advantages for small
businesses to go through the Chamber plan, including access to the economically
priced Blue Preferred program and an exclusive Community Blue Plan for
sole proprietors. For more information call the Chamber at 734-427-2122.
AAA Group Services-Auto & Home:
Chamber members and their employees qualify to receive a discount on
auto and homeowners insurance. Also available is a discount on AAA membership
which includes 24-hour roadside assistance, Show Your Card and Save
discounts plus access to one of the nation's leading full-service travel
agencies and FREE maps, TripTik routings and TourBook guides. AAA also
provides additional voluntary benefits for your employees such as: Long
Term Care Insurance, Lifetime Financial Planning, Life Insurance and
Annuities and Financial Growth Products. Click here to view special offers to Chamber members.
Advertising:
Observer & Eccentric Newspapers Advertising:
Through the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper�s Gold Program, members
can receive 45% to 50% off regular ad rates and additional savings on
all other services. For more information call the Observer and Eccentric Newspapers at 734-953-2170.
Office Supplies
Office Depot:
Office Depot offers members up to 88% off office supplies (an average
savings of 68%). Enjoy the deepest discounts on the 300 most frequently
ordered items. Order by internet, phone, and fax or with an in-store
purchasing card. In most areas, free next-day delivery is available.
For more information call 1-800-578-9675 x 5711.
Telecommunications
Verizon Wireless:
Wireless telephone rates at are available at 5% off rate plans of $35
or higher, or the current promotional pricing. Also available are 25%
discounts for accessories and large discounts on multiple phone plans.
TDS Metrocom (local phone service):
Members receive the best rate TDS Metrocom offers for local phone service.
The program provides 5-year term pricing in exchange for a one-year
end-user commitment. For more information call 1-877-METROCOM (638-7626)
Banks & Credit Unions
Merchant Services-Comerica Bank:
Members receive special Chamber rates for processing credit cards and
certain fees are reduced for Chamber members. For more information call
the Chamber at 734-427-2122.
Credit Union Eligibility:
Members of the Chamber and their employees can receive eligibility at
certain Credit unions. For more information call the Chamber at 734-427-2122.
Member-to-Member Benefits
The Chamber offers many more savings through our Member-to-Member Benefits
program that is included with each week�s email update. To participate
by making an offer or to receive a Member-to-Member Benefits directory,
call the Chamber at 734-427-2122.
How to take advantage of these Premium Member Benefits
For more information on any Premium Member Benefits, please contact
the Chamber at 734-427-2122 or e-mail us.
IV. Economic &Community Development
The Chamber uses a number of economic development and promotional tools to continually work to improve the quality of life in our community to ensure Livonia remains a vibrant economic entity.
Making the Right First Impression
Community Welcome Center:
The Chamber has created a Livonia Welcome Center that is the place for new residents, visitors, and members of the community to get information on the city and local businesses. For those new or visiting our community, the Welcome Center provides a warm, friendly face in Livonia to help them become acquainted with our wonderful city. As an extension of the Welcome Center activities, Chamber staff also handles thousands of requests each year from people needing information on our city or referrals to businesses in the area.
Chamber Web Site: Portal to Our Community:
Livonia.org is the first glimpse potential new residents, new businesses, visitors, and others see of Livonia. Through the Chamber's Web site we provide valuable information in an entertaining manner that gives the best first impression possible of our community. Livonia.org is one of the Chamber's primary economic development tools for Livonia.
Community Partner:
To support the mission of developing a strong community, the Chamber works as a partner with public leaders and other community organizations to promote the community and plan for a healthy future.
Partners in Economic Development Initiatives:
The Chamber is the promoter of Livonia as a great place to locate and open a business. The Chamber actively participates in key city economic development initiatives like Plymouth Road Development Authority that works on revitalizing the southern Livonia business district. The Chamber also participates as a member of the Mayor's Economic Development Taskforce. In addition, the Chamber actively supports a number of local events, including the Livonia's birthday celebration, the Livonia Spree.
Business Education Alliance:
Since Livonia is a desirable, family-oriented community, many
future employees in Livonia will come from those who grow up in the community.
Realizing that our future is in our youth, the Chamber works actively in
partnership with the Livonia Public Schools to bring business and life skills to
the educational process. For example, through programs like the Business/Teacher
Connection and the Business/Principal Connection, educators are directly exposed
to what skills are needed in the workplace.
The Voice of Business:
Under the guidance of our Government Issues Committee, the Chamber lobbies city and state officials to improve the business climate in our community and protect the interest of local commerce. To maintain a vibrant community, the Chamber works on important issues such as business taxes, quality of life, health care reform, improving public education, roads, infrastructure, and much more!
Forums With Public Leaders:
Annually the Government Issues Committee hosts roundtables with
city, county, and state elected officials to discuss issues that are important
to local businesses and the community.
VI. Special New Member Benefits
New Member Announcement:
When first joining, new members are announced in the newsletter and weekly e-mail update.
New Member Gathering:
Members are invited to attend a New Member Gathering to
network with other 
new members and to learn how to get maximum value from the
Livonia Chamber of Commerce.
Plaque and Membership Deal:
Some people see the membership plaque and decal as a stamp of
approval. Other people see them as meaning you're one of the "good businesses in
town" or a leading business in the community. No matter what people believe,
they always have a sense of reassurance and confidence when they see your
business belongs to the local Chamber of Commerce.
VII. Ways We Keep You Informed
Since people communicate in different ways the Chamber employs many different techniques to reach our broad audience of over 830 members.
Weekly Email Chamber Update:
To keep members informed about upcoming Chamber events and other initiatives members receive an easily read weekly e-mail.
Chamber Newsletter:
The Chamber sends an informative bimonthly newsletter, Chamber News, to over 900 businesses.
Event Invitations:
The Chamber finds the best way inform people about upcoming Chamber functions is through e-mails and faxes. The Chamber regularly e-mails and faxes invitations for upcoming events one month and two weeks prior to events.
