The Tunica County Chamber of Commerce is an organization dedicated to growing and diversifying the economy, creating a strong community with opportunities for all citizens and providing a prime quality of life.
Chartered by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office on March 29, 1956, it was the encouragement of John Henry and five members of the Tunica County Industrial Committee that led to the formation of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce. The committee believed that the creation of a Chamber was a vital necessity to move Tunica County forward as a center for industry and commerce.
The inaugural meeting on April 17, 1956, was attended by 53 citizens. Fifty businesses and individuals immediately joined the Chamber as a result of the first meeting.
Several of the names from the inaugural membership are still recognizable in the Tunica business community and are involved in the Chamber today, including Blue & White Café, Dulaney & Dulaney, Dunn Jewelry, MS Power & Light, Murphree's Grocery, C.W. Owens & Son, Planter's Oil Mill, A.T. Tucker, Jack Turner, Watson's Cash Store and Whittington Wholesale.
Marvin Watson was elected the first president, O'Dell Sanders, vice president, and Ellis Koonce, secretary-treasurer. Members of the Board of Directors were Sterling Seabrook, Hayes Farish, H.C. Bond, James Wilson and Dick Whittington.
By June 1, 1956, the Chamber had 74 members.
The Chamber got off to a fast start by locating an industry in Tunica late in 1956. The Tunica Manufacturing Company made pillows and bedding and remained an active industry in Tunica until 2002, employing up to 350 people.
While the Chamber has evolved in its nearly 50-year existence, the focus is still on diversifying the economy and providing leadership for community development. Up until 1992, the Chamber was involved mainly with agriculture-related industries and was still searching to create the wide-ranging economic base that provides a recession-proof economy.
In 1992, gaming came to Tunica County, creating a steady stream of jobs and tax revenues to support an enlarged program at the Chamber. An intense effort began to establish industrial parks and recruit manufacturing, distribution and warehousing to the area. Today this is the primary purpose of the Chamber - recruiting and retaining industry.
In 1956 the Chamber was made up completely of volunteers. Today the Chamber has a full-time staff of three with additional part-time help. While dues have increased, to $40 for individuals and $120 for small businesses, so have the services and benefits that are offered to Chamber members.
The spirit of the Chamber still relies heavily on volunteers; but with citizens and businesses who have been members for 50 years, the commitment is solid in continuing the drive toward prosperity and an enhanced quality of life for Tunica County.
For additional assistance with your site selection process, please call the
Tunica County Chamber of Commerce at (662) 363-2865 or e-mail marketing@tunicachamber.com.
