History

Since 1917, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce has been the voice for business in the Joplin area. From a completely volunteer organization promoting the interests of business in a mining boomtown, the Chamber has grown to fourteen professional staff people, working with hundreds of volunteers to positively impact the business climate and quality of life in a growing metropolitan area.

We work closely with our regional economic development partner the MOKAN Partnership. Founded in 1986 and located here in Joplin, MOKAN is a 501(c)3 economic development organization and public-private partnership that advances business attraction, retention, and growth efforts, and invests in our regional workforce in a seven-county tristate region: Barton, Jasper, Newton, and McDonald Counties in Missouri; Crawford and Cherokee Counties in Kansas; and Ottawa County in Oklahoma.

Each business day your Chamber assists small businesses and major industries on issues that affect their ability to survive and grow. As the lead marketing organization, in a unique economic development partnership, your Chamber works to bring new companies to the area, to create a stronger economic base and to provide jobs for area citizens.

Your Chamber works hard with our area schools to improve education, particularly in those areas that will help youth become productive and participating members of the community. With all the benefits to be found in our area, we have no greater asset than our children and no higher calling than to make sure they receive the education needed to achieve their dreams.