|
On Thursday evening, the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance celebrated the Chamber of Commerce’s 110th anniversary with a special evening dedicated to the legacy of Kokomo’s business community and the impact of visionary leadership. A dinner and awards program at Bel Air Events, the event brought together Chamber members, business leaders and public officials to honor our organization’s long-standing commitment to economic growth and community development.
The event invited nearly 400 guests to explore the Chamber's journey since 1914 through historical pictures and curated remnants of the past. The Alliance kept a particular focus on the contributions of Kokomo’s own Elwood Haynes, an automotive pioneer and visionary whose influence helped shape the Chamber of Commerce. Haynes recognized that a prosperous business community needed a strong network — a network that would bring together innovation, talent, and opportunity.
Alliance Board Chair Cary Mawbey addressed the event's audience to reflect on the Alliance’s transformative role in the community.
“It’s an exciting time for our community,” he noted, highlighting the Alliance’s multi-faceted contributions through its divisions: the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau, Inventrek Tech Park, and the Downtown Association. Mawbey emphasized the Alliance’s often unseen but significant work that drives Kokomo’s daily vibrancy, stating, “The Alliance is here, day in and day out, not just in moments of big announcements, but in all the quieter, essential ways that sustain and grow our economy.”
| 
