Become A Member
When you become a member of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, you and your business or organization benefit in many ways. Some of the benefits are specific and tangible, like those described below. Other less obvious benefits derive from your support of the local economic community and those working to enhance it.
Upon joining the Partnership, you automatically become a member of the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce and are entitled to take advantage of the many programs offered.
Benefits of Chamber Membership
Listed below are some of our more popular benefits. To view all benefits by membership level, visit our Join page.
STARKVILLE MAGAZINE & DIRECTORY
The Starkville Magazine and Membership Directory, published annually, is distributed to 5,000 members, businesses, hotel guests, visitors, and new residents annually, providing high visibility to potential customers. Partnership members are listed alphabetically and by classification. Members are also eligible to purchase display advertising.
ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
We offer many opportunities to publicize your business throughout the year through advertising and sponsorship packages. When you get the message out to fellow members, you’ll be reaching some of the region’s most influential leaders, including not only corporate managers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, but also media representatives, educators, and political and civic leaders who are Partnership members.
INTERNET EXPOSURE
The directory of members listed on the Partnership website provides worldwide exposure for your business. Upon request, links to members’ websites can be added to the Partnership website.
GRAND OPENINGS & RIBBON CUTTINGS
The opening of a new, renovated, or expanded business provides an excellent opportunity for publicity. The Chamber of Commerce Division makes the necessary arrangements and invites key city and county officials and others to grand opening or ribbon cutting. After the event, publicity is provided in Partnership Matters, our monthly electronic newsletter, and photos are submitted to the local newspaper.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
The highly popular Business After Hours gathering, hosted by area businesses on the third Thursday of the first two months each quarter, offers an opportunity to showcase your firm and network with other members in an informal atmosphere. Partnership members are encouraged to invite prospective members as their guests.
BUSINESS AT BREAKFAST
Join us for Business at Breakfast on the last Friday of every month to make new business connections to help grow your business circle. Have a chance to share about what is going on with your business as you hear from other fellow chamber members about theirs. Hear updates from The Partnership and have a chance to share about other community announcements.
LOCAL DEALS
Member firms are given an opportunity to promote their discounts, coupons, sales, and special offers via The Partnership’s Local Deals page, the Local Deals e-newsletter with hundreds of local subscribers, and social media accounts.
BUSINESS REFERRALS
When potential customers contact the Partnership office, our staff members refer them only to members of the Partnership.
NEW STUDENT PROMOTIONS
Capitalizing on the influx of new students each year, the Partnership provides packets containing coupons, brochures, and specialty promotional items supplied by members to more than 5,000 new students each year, helping your business gain their loyalty when they first arrive on campus.
NEWSLETTER
Partnership members stay informed about the latest business news and upcoming events via the Partnership’s monthly email newsletter, Partnership Matters.
WELCOME CENTER
Members may display their business cards and promotional materials in the Welcome Center at the Partnership’s offices on Main Street where they will be seen by hundreds of visitors each year.
RESOURCE CENTER
Information on a wide range of business-related topics is available for members’ use at the Partnership offices. Data available include community demographics, local and area telephone directories, a community calendar, maps, lists of civic organizations and major employers, an industrial directory, and apartment guides. If you can’t find what you need, the Partnership staff will be glad to help.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Partnership members and the community at large benefit from the Partnership’s varied programs. Learn more about the programs offered.
HOSPITALITY TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES
Paige Hunt– Director of Tourism has a wonderful service-based customer service training that will equip your employees with all of the tools needed to treat every customer exceptionally.
*For Business Investor, Business Advocate, and Leadership Circle members
PARTNERSHIP MEMBER MAILING LIST
One time hard copy labels with name and address
ROTATING LOGO ON TV IN WELCOME CENTER
Be the center of attention at our Starkville Welcome Center
*For Business Investor, Business Advocate, and Leadership Circle members
WEBSITE FEATURE ARTICLE
Our website, starkville.org, is the hub for all things Chamber, Main Street, Economic Development, and Tourism. Let us spotlight your business with an article on our highly visited website.
*For Business Advocate and Leadership Circle members
FACEBOOK LIVE
Our Partnership Facebook Page is home to over 6,000 followers. Get Featured in a Live Video on our page as we give a tour of your business.
*For Business Advocate and Leadership Circle members
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA POST
Your business will be featured in a Facebook post on the Partnership Facebook page.
*For Business Advocate and Leadership Circle members
COMPLIMENTARY SPONSORSHIP CREDIT
The Chamber is host to many events from Business After Hours to Get Swept Up. Sponsorship credit allows you to sponsor the event without having to come out of pocket. Your logo will be featured on our event graphics, and your business can set up a table to hand out marketing giveaways at the event.
*For Business Advocate and Leadership Circle members
PAY-IT-FORWARD PARTNER
Have a business that you would like to gift a membership to. Now you can, with our Pay-It-Forward program. The business recipient will receive all the benefits of a Business Partner Membership completely complimentary.
*For Business Advocate and Leadership Circle members
NAME RECOGNITION ON PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR WALL
Housed right on Main Street, your business will be featured on our Partnership contributor wall outside of the Main Elevator in the building.
*For Leadership Circle members
LOGO ON EVENTS CALENDAR
Our Starkville events calendar is packed with all things to do in Starkville. Your logo will be featured with the calendar.
*For Leadership Circle members
LOGO ON HOMEPAGE
We proudly showcase your business logo on our highly visited Partnership home page.
*For Leadership Circle members
ANNUAL NETWORKING EVENT WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS
Be in the know about what is happening on a local level with a meet and greet with our City and County Officials at The Partnership

GOT QUESTIONS?
We’re here to help you succeed. If you have any questions or need assistance with any of your member benefits, please contact Hunter Harrington at hharrington@starkville.org