New digs for Red Oak Chamber

RED OAK – The Red Oak Chamber of  Commerce has a new home.

Moving offices from the State Farm Building the week of Aug. 14, the new location is on Ovilla Road inside the Access Self Storage office.

“COVID has struck us all in many different ways, and the Chamber is no exception,” said Clint Woodward, Red Oak Chamber of Commerce President. 

“One of the biggest challenges lies with our events, which we are unable to have the majority of them, so we have really had to find ways to reinvent our events, so we don’t lose out.”

Speaking of events, the Chamber’s biggest event of the year is the Red Oak Chamber Classic Golf Tournament, which Woodward said is Sept. 25 at Country View Golf Course in Lancaster. Also, as COVID-19  becomes manageable the Chamber is also in the process of putting together an educational series.

“We are modifying our normal auction to an online format, which will be held Nov. 5 – 8,” Woodward said.

Woodward started his position with the chamber in Mar. 2019, and he said in the last six months COVID-19 has really hurt the Red Oak Chamber of Commerce during his time in the position.

In fact, 75% of the annual revenue comes from events, so with no events the Chamber is bleeding money and burning through its reserves. 

“This opportunity [for a new location] came up, and we will save $600 month, so it was hard to say no,” Woodward explained.

Time will tell if the move was a good choice, but Woodward said, “It will allow for new and different opportunities for us to serve the community. One of the biggest changes with the office being moved will be my availability in the office. Our new location will allow more time for me to be out and about, rather than having to make sure there is someone always at the office.”

From a city perspective, the Chamber of Commerce in Red Oak does very little with the city beyond the normal events, however they are also exploring new options to partner with Red Oak’s Economic Development Corporation to participate in more opportunities to help businesses.  

“When the new city building is completed, we will actually have offices available to us, and they will be right next to Economic Development, so we are excited for the future opportunities that we will have once the new city building is complete,” Woodward concluded.