The Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and I would like to wish the residents of Lexington a very Happy Holiday season. As 2025 comes to a close, I would like to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments. I would also like to clarify the role of the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce and address some questions that have been asked.

First, the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce is a 1120 C Corporation and has been a for profit organization since its founding in 1948 and as such, our operations, finances, and governance is the business of the Chamber and its membership. While we welcome and appreciate feedback from the community, we invite you to become a member to make help make a positive impact with the Chamber.

Next, let me see if I can address some accountability concerns regarding the Chamber. In 2024, the Chamber hired Westbrook & Co., P.C. to provide accounting services, which includes payroll, accounts payable and receivable, taxes and financial oversight. Our comptroller, who is an elected Director of the Board, ensures that all expenditures are within the guidelines of our bylaws and our budget, which are approved by our Board of Directors. Additionally, if I explain the purpose of the Chamber, it might help you understand what we do. Our Mission Statement states that our purpose is to advance and promote the economic environment for business and advocate responsive government and quality education, while preserving the area’s unique community characteristics. So, with this in mind, here are many of the things that the Chamber did to address our mission in 2025.

In an attempt to keep money in the local economy, we administer the Chamber Gift Certificate program, including the Holiday Give Away drawings. We print and distribute the Eat, Shop Do brochures, and host events to bring tourists to town, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Festival of Lights, Second Sundays and the Trolley Wine Tours. Additionally, a very expensive, but worthwhile investment in Lexington has been advertising in newspapers and magazines, on the radio and social media, funding the Missouri Life TV episode and two (2) billboards on I-70. Free quarterly luncheons focusing on helping small businesses thrive and survive, as well as, providing beginning and advanced QuickBooks training.

Partnering with the City of Lexington in the Kansas City Area Development Council membership was the beginning of a successful year working with government entities. Assisting with tourism efforts through the donation of the trolley and rental of The LEX for Tourism’s Unexplained event. Additionally, we were proud to work hand-in-hand with the Community Fair Board to sponsor the Car Show with all proceeds going directly to the Wounded Warrior Project and to donate to the improvements on Main Street Park.

Donating to the local schools and catering a faculty breakfast are only part of the story. Our scholarships for high school seniors have been greatly appreciated by the recipients and their families. Additionally, sponsoring the FFA and the Lafayette County 4H Fair has proven to be very impactful for youth in the community. Some of our other contributions to the community have been purchasing a pillar for the Goose Pond project, printing Welcome Bag booklets for the GFWCWomen’sClub of Lexington, as well as, sponsoring the 9/11 Freedom Walk, the Missouri River Catfish Classic and the Lexington chapter of Ducks Unlimited and their wetlands conservation goals.

While this list is not comprehensive, it attempts to detail our role as a Benevolent Corporation. It does not detail the State mandated pay raises for our license office employees and the positive impacts for their families. Nor does it reflect on the countywide investment that the Chamber is taking on as we begin the process to purchase the Lexington News, Higginsville Advance and Santa Fe Times newspapers. We at the Chamber have attempted to work with the county, city and local organizations to make a positive impact on the community in 2025 and will strive to continue in 2026. We would like to wish the Lexington community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.