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Perry Chamber reports membership growth, Shop Perry campaign and Cherokee Strip carnival plans
Summary
Perry Chamber of Commerce told council it has 206 members, nine new members in the quarter, retail spending tracked in the Shop Perry campaign and plans for the Cherokee Strip celebration with a returning carnival; the chamber also applied for a nonprofit foundation and sought council support for grant applications.
Katie Karas, executive director of the Perry Chamber of Commerce, presented the chamber’s Q2 2025 report, reporting nine new members and a total of 206 active memberships. She told council the chamber is running a summer Shop Perry campaign that rewards shoppers who upload receipts; the chamber had received more than 125 receipts and $7,536 in tracked retail spending from those submissions at the time of the report.
Events and tourism: Karas said the Cherokee Strip celebration will return with a carnival on the northeast parking lot of the square and that wristbands will go on sale August 1; the chamber is recruiting sponsors, vendors and race participants for a 5K/10K. The carnival cost is about $3,000; the chamber has paid a portion and sought grant support through a local affiliated fund, with a city application submitted to meet grant timing.
Organizational developments: Karas said the chamber applied to form a new 501(c)(3) foundation to pursue grant funding and expand small-business support (she said the foundation paperwork was submitted). The chamber also plans a fall business workshop series, a student ambassador program and a tourism guide highlighting the centennial of a locally owned diner.
Council reaction: members thanked the chamber for its work and for the funding increase approved by council; no action was required.
