Vision & Mission
Discover the Chamber of Lawrence
Social capital is the fabric used to weave a strong community and no one boasts a longer history of leveraging social capital for the community’s common good than The Chamber in Lawrence, Kansas.
For nearly 150 years, the Chamber has held fast to its original purpose as stated in its Articles of Incorporation: To advance the commercial, industrial, educational and civic interests of the City of Lawrence. To understand what the Chamber has represented, how it has brought together resources for the common good and what it aspires to be, you need to look no further than its members and leaders, who have led the way in building the Lawrence economy and improving the quality of life for its residents.
Some highlights from The Chamber’s history include:
- The creation of Lone Star Lake, dedicated in 1940, after The Chamber raised $10,000 from selling lots on the proposed waterfront
- Involvement in the recruitment of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in 1942
- The Lawrence Industrial Development Company, formed in 1949 as the first economic development efforts by The Chamber. Activities of the group include buying land at 23rd and Haskell and recruiting the Food Machinery & Chemical Corporation
- Lobbying efforts by The Chamber and the University of Kansas for I-70 to route through Lawrence instead of Tonganoxie in 1953
The Santa Fe Industrial Park was initiated in 1956 and opened in 1960. By the mid-to-late 1970’s, the park was nearly full and the Chamber began efforts to identify additional land for economic development. The East Hills Industrial Park is the result of the Chamber’s proactive plan to recruit companies by providing land suitable for building and, in some cases, structures ready for lease or purchase. Additionally, in 1987, the Chamber was instrumental in encouraging the City’s investment in a new terminal at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, which had been in operation since 1929.
The Leadership Lawrence program was established in 1982 and now boasts nearly 900 graduates who have gone to be community and government leaders.
Today, the Chamber is embarking on a new era of community development activism to jumpstart the local economy. The Chamber is working collaboratively with the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, KU Innovation Park, USD 497 and the KU Small Business Development Center, as well as other community organizations on multiple projects:
- Lawrence VenturePark, an industrial site on K-10 Highway with a spec building ready for business and two projects announced in the past few years: Pretzels Inc. and U.S Engineering
- Continued support of The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center to improve workforce development efforts
- Expansion of KU Innovation Park to support local growth in the tech and bioscience sector
- Identification of resources for start-ups and entrepreneurs, including the Metro E-Community gap fund loan program
Growth. Leadership. Advocacy.
It’s all happening at The Chamber in Lawrence, Kansas.
OUR VISION:
A thriving, economically progressive community and enviable quality of life for our citizens.
OUR MISSION:
Promote growth and economic prosperity by serving as the leading business advocate, cultivating leadership & facilitating connectivity.
EDC of Lawrence & Douglas County
The EDC is the economic development arm of The Chamber. The EDC’s goal is for Lawrence & Douglas County to have the region’s top performing economy and be recognized as the best place to live, learn, play, work and do business.
“The Chamber has turned us on to other businesses, other people to talk to, financial business plans.
I can systematically look at how the Lawrence Chamber helps businesses.”
Bryan Zesiger, Z&M Twisted Vines
Lawrence Kansas
The Chamber
Non-Profit Directory
The Chamber is proud of the fact that so many local non-profits engage with and invest in The Chamber. Our special pricing for our 501(c)3 members for membership and marketing oportunities allows these amazing organizations to reach the local business community, finding potential donors, board members and support.
This directory features non-profit members of The Chamber. If your business is interested in expanding your involvement with the Lawrence community, we hope you reference this list! If your organization doesn't appear on this list, we hope you consider joining The Chamber!
Animals
Lawrence Humane Society
1805 E. 19th St.
(785) 843-6835
lawrencehumane.org
The Arts
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire St.
(785) 843-2787
lawrenceartscenter.org
Marla Quilts, Inc.
2001 Haskell Ave.
(785) 371-6682
marlaquiltsinc.com
Van Go, Inc.
715 New Jersey St.
(785) 842-3797
van-go.org
Children/Education
Ballard Center
708 Elm St.
(785) 842-0729
ballardcenter.org
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
2910 Haskell Ave.
(785) 841-5672
bgclk.org
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Douglas County
1009 New Hampshire St., Suite A & B
(785) 832-5172
www.dccasaks.org
Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 865-0669
east.ks.childcareaware.org
Communities in Schools of Mid-America
1919 Delaware St.
(785) 865-5190
cismidamerica.org
Community Children's Center
901 Kentucky St., Ste. 202
(785) 260-8184
communitychildrenks.org
Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts
10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO
(816) 942-9333
hoac-bsa.org
Junior Achievement
(785)841-8245
kansasja.org
Kansas Action for Children
709 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 200, Topeka, KS
(785) 232-0550
kac.org
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 843-7359
kansasbigs.org
Landen Lucas Foundation
4000 W. 6th St.
(503) 989-9930
landenlucasfoundation.org
Lawrence Children's Choir
(785) 331-4662
lawrewncechildrenschoir.org
Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont St.
(785) 843-3833
lawrencepubliclibrary.org
Lawrence Schools Foundation
110 McDonald Dr.
(785) 330-1941
lawrenceschoolsfoundation.org
Peaslee Tech
2920 Haskell Ave., Ste. 100
(785) 856-1801
peasleetech.org
READ Lawrence
1900 Delaware St.
(785)424-0838
facebook.com/READLawrenceKS
The Children's Shelter
1925 Delaware St.
(785) 843-2085
theshelterinc.org
Foundations
Capitol Federal Foundation
700 Kansas Ave., Ste. 517, Topeka, KS
(785) 270-6040
capfed.com
Douglas County Community Foundation
900 Massachusetts St., Ste. 406
(785) 843-8727
dccfoundation.org
Haskell Foundation
155 Indian Ave., Box 5019
(785) 749-8425
haskellfoundation.org
Health
Alzheimer's Association - Heart of America Chapter
3846 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS
(913) 831-3888
alz.org/kansascity
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
200 Maine St., Ste. A
(785) 843-9192
bertnash.org
Community Blood Center of KC
4040 Main St., Kansas City, MO
(816) 968-4004
savealifenow.org
CV Key Project
cvkeyproject.org
Douglas County Visiting Nurses
200 Maine St., Ste. 150
(785) 843-3738
kansasvna.org
Heartland Community Health Center
346 Maine St., Ste. C
(785) 841-7297
heartlandhealth.org
Kansas Advocates for Better Care
536 Fireside Court, Ste. B
(785) 842-3088
kacb.org
Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ
2110 Delaware St., Ste. B
(785) 841-9900
headquarterscounselingcenter.org
Lawrence Douglas County Public Health
200 Maine St., Ste. B
(785) 843-3060
ldchealth.org
Midland Care Connection
319 Perry St.
(800) 726-7450
midlandcare.org
Trinity In-Home Care
2001 W. 25th St., Ste. Q
(785) 842-3159
tihc.org
Housing
Family Promise of Lawrence
905 Tennessee St.
(785) 856-1417
lawrencefamilypromise.org
Housing & Credit Counseling
2518 Ridge Court., Ste. 104
(785) 749-4224
hcci-ks.org
Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority
1600 Haskell Ave.
(785) 842-8110
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity
720 Connecticut St.
(785) 832-0777
lawrencehabitat.org
Tenants to Homeowners
2518 Ridge Court, Ste. 103
(785) 842-5494
tenants-to-homeowners.org
Local Organizations
Lawrence Farmers Market
(785) 505-0117
lawrencefarmersmarket.org
Seniors
Community Village Lawrence
2001 Haskell Ave.
(785) 505-0187
communityvillagelawrence.org
Senior Resource Center of Douglas County
745 Vermont St.
(785) 842-0543
yoursrc.org
Support Services
American Red Cross
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 843-3550
redcross.org
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
1525 W. 6th St.
(785) 856-2694
catholiccharitiesks.org
Cottonwood, Inc.
2801 W. 31st. St.
(785) 842-0550
cwood.org
Douglas County CASA
1009 New Hampshire St.,
Ste. A & B
(785) 832-5172
dccasa.org
Douglas County ECKAN Center
2518 Ridge Court, Ste. 104
(785) 841-3357
Just Food
1000 E. 11th St.
(785) 856-7030
justfoodks.org
Lawrence Community Shelter
3655 E. 25th St.
(785) 832-8864
lawrenceshelter.org
The Salvation Army
946 New Hampshire St.
(785) 843-4188
lawrence.salvationarmy.us
United Way of Douglas County
1307 Massachusetts St.
(785) 843-6626
unitedwaydgco.org
Willow Domestic Violence Center
1920 Moodie Road
(785) 331-2034
willowdvcenter.org
Visit Us
718 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS 66044
Contact Info
info@lawrencechamber.com
(785) 865-4411
Join the Chamber