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History
The History of Your Chamber
The first organizational meeting to create the Owosso Chamber of Commerce was held in 1902. Leo Detwiler was nominated as temporary Chairman, with membership dues set at $10.00 per year. A Board of ten Directors was nominated, and chose Detwiler as the first President. The name of the Owosso Chamber of Commerce changed to the Owosso Improvement Association in 1908. Jay M. Terbush was the first President of this new organization. By 1913, still being called this name, it was located a 209 ½ S. Washington St., with H. B. Sturtevant as president. The name was changed back to the Owosso Chamber of Commerce in 1921 under the leadership of L. L. Conn. In that year it was located at 209 Citizens Savings Bank Building. In 1924 the local Chamber became a member of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, a relationship that continues to this day. Also for many years, the Chamber has been an associate office of the U. S. Department of Commerce and as such can certify overseas bills of lading.
Charles E. Noyes was brought from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl., in 1928 to become the first full-time secretary-manager. The office was then located in the Hotel Owosso. In 1938 the Chamber was reorganized under the old name of Owosso Improvement Association with Don R. Mitchell as the first president. The name was changed back to the Chamber in 1945 with long-serving Larry Bannan as secretary-manager, who held this position for 16 years. It was during his term in office that the Owosso Industrial Development Corporation was formed as a nonprofit corporate arm of the Chamber. J. Evans Campbell was president at that time. IODC (later as the Shiawassee Valley Development Corporation) has continued to be active for over seventy years in helping existing industry and working to secure new industry.
The Chambers of Commerce of Owosso and Corunna were merged in early 1972, and since that date men and women of both Owosso and Corunna began serving on the Board of Directors and being active in committee work. Kathryne Snell, Director of Public Relations for Universal Electric Company, served the Chamber as its first woman president for the years of 1982-83.
Over the years, the Chamber has rented or had donated many “store front” locations, but in 1968-69 the present modern office building at 215 N. Water St was constructed. Dr. Phillip Moore was president when this building was dedicated on March 21, 1969.
During the next few decades, several new programs and initiatives were introduced to “improve the vitality, strength, image and pride” in the area. Some of these include: ShiaNet (the first public access to the internet for the community), Leadership Shiawassee (an educational program to help develop new leaders), Small Business Development Corporation (personalized consulting, education and resources directed to small business start-ups), and several monthly member networking events.
In 2000, the Chamber received National Accreditation through the U. S. Chamber of Commerce with a coveted 5-star rating. 2001 saw the formation of The Chamber Foundation, with the mission of assisting the Chamber in carrying out its charitable projects in Shiawassee County and surrounding areas.
On August 8, 2002, the Owosso-Corunna Area Chamber of Commerce truly became a county-wide Chamber when the name “Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce” and its bylaws were adopted. The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) began the following year as a committee of the Chamber with the focus of facilitating the creation and retention of jobs/investment through recruitment, and became its own organization in 2008. SRCC continues to represent county business and economic growth planning, always looking toward the future.
The first organizational meeting to create the Owosso Chamber of Commerce was held in 1902. Leo Detwiler was nominated as temporary Chairman, with membership dues set at $10.00 per year. A Board of ten Directors was nominated, and chose Detwiler as the first President. The name of the Owosso Chamber of Commerce changed to the Owosso Improvement Association in 1908. Jay M. Terbush was the first President of this new organization. By 1913, still being called this name, it was located a 209 ½ S. Washington St., with H. B. Sturtevant as president. The name was changed back to the Owosso Chamber of Commerce in 1921 under the leadership of L. L. Conn. In that year it was located at 209 Citizens Savings Bank Building. In 1924 the local Chamber became a member of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, a relationship that continues to this day. Also for many years, the Chamber has been an associate office of the U. S. Department of Commerce and as such can certify overseas bills of lading.
Charles E. Noyes was brought from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl., in 1928 to become the first full-time secretary-manager. The office was then located in the Hotel Owosso. In 1938 the Chamber was reorganized under the old name of Owosso Improvement Association with Don R. Mitchell as the first president. The name was changed back to the Chamber in 1945 with long-serving Larry Bannan as secretary-manager, who held this position for 16 years. It was during his term in office that the Owosso Industrial Development Corporation was formed as a nonprofit corporate arm of the Chamber. J. Evans Campbell was president at that time. IODC (later as the Shiawassee Valley Development Corporation) has continued to be active for over seventy years in helping existing industry and working to secure new industry.
The Chambers of Commerce of Owosso and Corunna were merged in early 1972, and since that date men and women of both Owosso and Corunna began serving on the Board of Directors and being active in committee work. Kathryne Snell, Director of Public Relations for Universal Electric Company, served the Chamber as its first woman president for the years of 1982-83.
Over the years, the Chamber has rented or had donated many “store front” locations, but in 1968-69 the present modern office building at 215 N. Water St was constructed. Dr. Phillip Moore was president when this building was dedicated on March 21, 1969.
During the next few decades, several new programs and initiatives were introduced to “improve the vitality, strength, image and pride” in the area. Some of these include: ShiaNet (the first public access to the internet for the community), Leadership Shiawassee (an educational program to help develop new leaders), Small Business Development Corporation (personalized consulting, education and resources directed to small business start-ups), and several monthly member networking events.
In 2000, the Chamber received National Accreditation through the U. S. Chamber of Commerce with a coveted 5-star rating. 2001 saw the formation of The Chamber Foundation, with the mission of assisting the Chamber in carrying out its charitable projects in Shiawassee County and surrounding areas.
On August 8, 2002, the Owosso-Corunna Area Chamber of Commerce truly became a county-wide Chamber when the name “Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce” and its bylaws were adopted. The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) began the following year as a committee of the Chamber with the focus of facilitating the creation and retention of jobs/investment through recruitment, and became its own organization in 2008. SRCC continues to represent county business and economic growth planning, always looking toward the future.
