Larned (Kansas) Community Web Site

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Chamber Services

By choosing to become a member of this organization, you are investing in the future of both Larned and Pawnee County. At the same time, the Chamber provides important Services to their members and the community:

Coffee Hours: The Chamber Coffee Hour is hosted by chamber members each Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This event that allows businesses to invite their fellow chamber members in for a great cup of coffee and refreshments while promoting their business, newest service, a new employee or an employee promotion or other special event.

Chamber Newsletter: The Chamber publishes a monthly newsletter keeping our membership informed about the current events of the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce and the Pawnee County Economic Development Commission, as well as news that affects business prosperity in both Larned and Pawnee County. The Chamber also hosts regular radio shows on KGTR, KVGB and KBGL radio stations.

Education and Business Development:

• Chamber Business Library: This in-house library features everything from marketing to motivation, and information on tradeshows and running effective meetings. Extensive selections of tape and video series are also available. This is an opportunity for members to grow both personally and professionally.
• Educational Conferences: The Chamber hosts business seminars to assist business owners, entrepreneurs, retailers and restauranteurs learn the strategies and tactics needed to attain success in a rural marketplace.

Hot Line System: The Chamber Hot Line is a phone call network to warn Chamber members of worthless checks circulating in the trade region.

New Business Expansion: The Chamber is the first contact for individuals looking for buildings and/or building sites as well as business incentives for both new businesses or those looking to expansion.

Rental House Listing: The Chamber provides a rental house listing that lists rental houses available in Larned and the Pawnee County area. This service is provided free of charge to anyone wishing to list their rental property.

Community Celebrations: These promotions create a festive atmosphere for our citizens, neighbors, family and friends to gather and celebrate the values of small-town living outside the confines of a fast-paced world.

• Santa Fe Trail Days: Held each Memorial Day Weekend (Friday thru Monday) This yearly event is a celebration of both our heritage and history. This is a time to celebrate the legacy of our forefathers and our place in history today. Santa Fe Trail Days attracts not only family, friends, neighbors and alumni of our community, but also visitors from across the state of Kansas as well as the United States.
• 4th-of-July Fireworks Celebration: Each year the Chamber Ambassadors, a branch of the Chamber of Commerce, hosts the 4th-of-July Fireworks Celebration, which is financially sponsored through the Chamber Ambassadors’ fundraising efforts.
• Moonlight Madness: Traditionally held in August of each year. This wild and wacky theme promotion includes sales events by the downtown merchants, craft and food vendors, the Moonlight Madness Parade and Larned’s own Summer Olympic Games.
• Harvest Fest: Held in October, Harvest Fest is an all-Fall event celebrating the Fall season in rural America with pumpkin patches, hay rack rides, great food and fun and games for kids of all ages.
• Christmas: Kiddie Day is held the first weekend of December and includes Santa’s Workshop where children ages K - 3rd Grade will get to decorate a Christmas cookies, make a keepsake ornament, shop for Mom & Dad and then gift wrap their surprises. They will also get to visit with Santa at Santa’s House, enjoy a snack and attend the free movie at the State Theater. The Annual Christmas Parade is held the second Saturday of December in downtown Larned. This event is always a crowd pleaser and a time honored tradition during the holiday season. Silver Dollar Days, a Larned cash give-away promotion, is held the first three Saturdays of December with drawings every hour during the final Saturday.

Ribbbon Cutting Services: The Chamber Ambassadors host a Ribbon Cutting event when a new business opens or an economic expansion takes place at a member's business.

Community Shows & Events:

• The Annual Antique Show & Sale is scheduled the second weekend in March (Friday thru Sunday) at the National Guard Armory. This show includes exhibitors from a four state area featuring collectibles, primitives, furniture, jewelry, toys, Victorian patterned glass and depression, and antique fishing and hunting gear.
• The Chamber's Annual Banquet is held the first weekend of April and is an opportunity for Chamber Members to gather together for great food, addresses by both the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce President and the Pawnee County Economic Development Commission President, presentation of the Chamber’s annual awards.
• Last Chance Golf Tournament: Traditionally the last golf tournament of the season in October, this event is an annual fund raising event for the Chamber of Commerce and a great day of golfing for area enthusiast.
• Farmers Market: The Chamber helps to create an avenue for the local producers of fruits, vegetables and other farm products to market their wares by organizing and promoting a weekly Farmers Market during the summer months.

Welcome Wagon Relocation Packets: The Welcome Wagon program serves as a welcoming agent for new residents, as well as an employee recruitment tool for area businesses.

Tourism:
The Chamber of Commerce is actively involved in promoting the tourism industries and events located here in Larned and Pawnee County. These include Fort Larned National Historic Site, Santa Fe Trail Center, Central States Scout Museum, The Little Red House, Sibley’s Camp, Camp Pawnee, the Larned City Lake, the Historical Homes tour, Santa Fe Trail Days, antique shopping and antique shows, the Sampler Festival, the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous, and other such tourism events and tours.