Bixby Living Guide 2020

#ONEBIXBY
Since 1947, the Bixby Metro Chamber has been the
key organization for businesses in the Bixby area.
Our mission is to offer a wide variety of programs
and services that stimulate economic growth and
spearhead initiatives that help grow the Bixby
community.
We accomplish our mission
by helping to:
1) Create a Better Community
through advocacy, relationship
building and events;
2) Build Stronger Businesses
through visibility, connections and
marketing; and
3) Personal Development
through leadership development,
education and committee involvement.
While a typical year for the Chamber includes
business and community events, education
opportunities and multiple publications, 2020
has proven to be a year of change for all of us.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the need for
a local business network to the forefront. The
Chamber’s goal during the height of the pandemic
response was, and into the future is, to be a key
disseminator of information for our businesses and
our community. Keeping business owners educated
on guidelines for safety, federal, state, and local
changes and rules that affect their operations, and
providing an avenue for our citizens to know that
our businesses are open and active is a small part
of what the Chamber does on a daily basis, and we
hope that our Partner businesses and beyond were
able to benefit from these services. Making sure
all businesses continue to have access to funding,
balance the need for additional safety protocols
BIXBY LIVING 12
while protecting the ability to do business, and
aiding with needed marketing and network building
will continue to be top priorities for the Chamber.
In 2019 we announced the creation of the Bixby
Development Foundation, a 501(c)3 entity that
will focus on the long-term success of the Bixby
area. One piece of the strategy for the Foundation
was a location that can support our current and
future entrepreneurs, and in January of this year
we officially unveiled plans for a future building
in partnership with the City of Bixby. Our goal for
this space is both private and shared workspace for
entrepreneurs, space for business and education
events, conference room space and space for
virtual meetings. We want this building to be a
source of community pride and fill a need for our
start-ups and early stage companies with accessible
space, mentoring, and resources needed to grow
their business.
We don’t know what the future holds. The flooding
event of May 2019 showed us all what our
community is - #OneBixby. The challenges of 2020
have proven that the spirit that makes Bixby such
a wonderful community was not a one-time event
but an ongoing, underlying thread that shows up
consistently. The support of our locally owned and
small businesses has been inspiring – the ways that
our business community and service organizations
have stepped up to re-enforce their love for our city
– and the way we have all worked together during
a time of challenge proves this.
We are proud to serve Bixby, and here for anything
that may be needed. As we move forward, we
envision it being together, prosperous, and
continuing the #OneBixby spirit.
John Karr
2020 Bixby Metro Chamber Board Chair