Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance

What Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance does

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization headquartered at 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo, Indiana, formed in 2009 to consolidate the community's economic development functions under one roof. It operates five integrated divisions — Economic Development, the Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce (whose lineage traces to 1914), the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association, the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau, and Inventrek Technology Park — and serves local businesses, prospective corporate investors, entrepreneurs, visitors, and downtown stakeholders within Kokomo and Howard County. The Alliance is led by President & CEO Lori Dukes, governed by an Advisory Council of community business leaders, and staffed by approximately 13 employees across manager-level roles for each division plus administrative and facilities support.

The Alliance's core service surface is a portfolio of community programs rather than proprietary technology: Chamber membership tiers (Advocate through Flagship), 112 annual networking and recognition events, the Annual Awards program (Large/Small Business of the Year, Economic Impact, etc.), the annual Strawberry Festival, First Fridays downtown activation, the Shared Drive coworking space inside the 98,000-square-foot Inventrek Certified Technology Park, The Drive business pitch competition, Level Up Business Branding, the Kokomo Sculpture Walk, Artist Alley murals, Keep Kokomo Beautiful, Women's Business Council and Young Professionals Network programming, and Inventrek conference room rentals ($50–$150 per session depending on duration and membership status). Major new infrastructure under development includes the 55,000-square-foot Kokomo Conference Center and 108-room Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Kokomo (scheduled Summer 2026 opening) in partnership with SSG Hotels, the City of Kokomo, and Howard County. Underlying technology is non-proprietary: ChamberMaster for member/event management, WordPress for web, and standard email and social channels.

The revenue model is a non-profit hybrid. Primary streams are recurring Chamber membership dues across 600+ members, event sponsorship revenue (Annual Awards Dinner, Golf Classic, Women's Business Council Leadership Conference, Strawberry Festival), Inventrek facility rentals, tourism marketing funding, and public-sector/corporate sponsor support from Flagship and Diamond partners including Stellantis, General Motors, Duke Energy, Community Howard Regional Health, Ivy Tech Community College, Community First Bank of Indiana, and Star Financial Bank. Distribution is conducted primarily through direct, in-person engagement at the Alliance HQ and Inventrek facility, plus digital channels (greaterkokomo.com, visitkokomo.org, monthly newsletters, Facebook/Instagram with 1.65M annual reach), with national media features (FOX59 Your Hometown Kokomo, John McGivern's Main Streets) extending reach. The Alliance has catalyzed material economic impact — including $252.2M in annual tourism impact and a $5.7B, 2,800-job EV battery investment via StarPlus Energy — but does not disclose operating revenue.

Name

Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance

Legal name

Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance

Website

https://greaterkokomo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit that operates five integrated divisions — Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association, Visitors Bureau, and Inventrek Tech Park — to attract investment, support businesses, drive tourism, and revitalize Kokomo and Howard County, Indiana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA), Convention Center–Adjacent/Connected Hotels (THAGALAD)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Chamber of commerce membership
• Downtown revitalization programs
• Convention visitors bureau
• Technology park incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kokomo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Chamber of Commerce generates revenue through membership fees at various tiers (Advocate, Innovator, Commercial, Executive, President, Diamond, Flagship), providing businesses with networking, marketing, and advocacy benefits.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated from sponsorships of Chamber events including the Annual Awards Celebration, Golf Classic, Women's Business Council Leadership Conference, Strawberry Festival, and other programs.
3. Conference Room Rentals: Inventrek Tech Park generates revenue through conference room and auditorium rentals to the public and Chamber members at varying rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alliance delivers economic development, business networking, downtown revitalization, tourism promotion, and technology-park incubation services for Kokomo and Howard County, Indiana. It provides tiered Chamber membership, site-selection and incentive support for prospective investors, conference-room and coworking rentals at Inventrek, the annual Drive business pitch competition, visitor marketing through the Visitors Bureau, and community events including the Strawberry Festival and First Fridays.

Product overview

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance is a multi-division economic development organization that combines Chamber of Commerce services, Downtown Association programs, Visitors Bureau operations, Economic Development functions, and Inventrek Technology Park into a unified platform. The core offerings include business networking and advocacy (Chamber of Commerce), startup incubation and coworking (Inventrek Technology Park, The Shared Drive), business pitch competitions (The Drive), professional development networks (Women's Business Council, Young Professionals Network), downtown revitalization initiatives (First Fridays, Keep Kokomo Beautiful, public art programs), major community events (Kokomo Strawberry Festival), and conference facilities. The organization supports the business community through programs like the Small Business of the Month recognition and Level Up Business Branding, while also developing major infrastructure projects including a new conference center and hotel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce Membership Tiered business membership organization (Advocate through Flagship tiers) providing networking, advocacy, marketing exposure, directory listing, and event access to businesses in Kokomo and Howard County.
• Inventrek Technology Park A 98,000-square-foot Certified Technology Park providing office space, resources, mentorship, and support for startup and high-growth companies, developed with Purdue University and Indiana University's Innovate Indiana program.
• The Shared Drive Coworking Space Howard County's first co-working space located within Inventrek Technology Park, providing flexible workspace for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• The Drive Business Pitch Competition Annual business pitch competition hosted by Inventrek Tech Park awarding funding to startups and high-growth companies to drive innovation and economic development.
• Level Up Business Branding Program Business branding and mentorship program helping entrepreneurs access resources to grow their businesses.
• Small Business of the Month Program Monthly recognition program celebrating dedication, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit among Greater Kokomo Chamber members, with winners eligible for the Small Business of the Year award.
• Conference Rooms at Inventrek Conference rooms and an 80-seat auditorium available for community use, with free access for tenants and discounted rates for Chamber members ($50–$150 per session).
• Kokomo Conference Center and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel A 55,000-square-foot conference center with capacity for up to 1,000 guests and a 108-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel, currently under construction for Summer 2026 opening in downtown Kokomo.
• First Friday Kokomo Monthly themed downtown events featuring local businesses, public art, activities, shopping, and dining throughout downtown Kokomo.
• Kokomo Strawberry Festival Annual festival on the first Friday of June celebrating community with strawberry shortcake, vendors, live music, and kids' activities.
• Keep Kokomo Beautiful Downtown beautification initiative involving flower basket planting (1,125 annually), container and alley planting, and annual planting days.
• Kokomo Sculpture Walk A mile-long outdoor sculpture exhibition featuring nine large-scale works by regional and national artists along the Industrial Heritage Trail and Kokomo Riverwalk.
• Artist Alley A 24/7 outdoor art gallery featuring mounted murals and sculptures from local and regional artists in a yearly exhibit as part of the All Alleys Lead to Art initiative.
• Women's Business Council (WBC) Networking group connecting, mentoring, and developing businesswomen through educational and networking opportunities.
• Young Professionals Network (YPN) Networking group developing younger professionals through leadership opportunities and philanthropic activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• $252.2M tourism economic impact
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and diamond.

• SSG Hotels LLCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024Partnership for the development of a downtown hotel and conference center. SSG Hotels, led by CEO Mahesh Patel, is developing a Hilton Garden Inn hotel with 108 rooms and a 55,000 sq ft conference center. The project includes the Kokomo Automotive Museum showcasing Haynes and Apperson automobiles.
• StarPlus Energy (Stellantis/Samsung SDI Joint Venture)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022$5.7B joint venture investment in two lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities, creating 2,800 jobs. Part of Stellantis' Dare Forward 2030 electrification strategy.
• City of KokomoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner providing support for economic development initiatives, downtown revitalization, and the hotel/conference center project. Mayor Tyler Moore is a key advocate for community development.
• Howard CountyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner collaborating on economic development, industrial parks, and community initiatives including the StarPlus Energy facilities.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Inventrek Technology Park development, providing research connections and support for technology-based economic development.
• Indiana University (Innovate Indiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to Inventrek Technology Park through the Innovate Indiana initiative, supporting commercialization of university research.
• StellantisdiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond partner and major employer. Partnering with Samsung SDI on StarPlus Energy EV battery plants in Kokomo, part of Stellantis' Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
• Main Street AmericacoreOthersNational nonprofit program helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts. Kokomo is a Nationally Accredited Main Street community through the Indiana Main Street Network.
• Indiana Main Street NetworkcoreOthersState-level program supporting downtown revitalization. Kokomo participates as a Nationally Accredited Main Street community.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TechPoint: Indiana's tech industry growth accelerator and ecosystem builder. Comparable in its entrepreneur-support and tech-talent mission to Inventrek, focused statewide rather than on a single community.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC): State-level economic development agency that Greater Kokomo partners with on StarPlus Energy and similar attraction projects. Ecosystem participant rather than competitor — the IEDC channels state incentives that the Alliance leverages for local wins.
• Main Street America: National downtown revitalization program of which Greater Kokomo is a Nationally Accredited Main Street community. Adjacent enabling organization whose accreditation framework Kokomo follows for downtown programming.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Chamber of Commerce: Statewide Indiana chamber representing all Indiana businesses. Broader incumbent that complements — rather than competes with — Greater Kokomo's local chamber, analogous to how the U.S. Chamber relates to local chambers.

Direct peers

• South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber serving the South Bend – Mishawaka metro with networking, advocacy, and economic development services. Comparable Indiana-based chamber with similar employer-partner concentration in manufacturing and healthcare.
• Indy Chamber: Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization operating an integrated chamber/CVB/EDO model. Direct structural peer — same five-division playbook at larger scale, serving the Indianapolis metro rather than Kokomo.
• Greater Lafayette Commerce: Greater Lafayette's combined chamber of commerce and economic development corporation serving Tippecanoe County. Direct Indiana EDO peer with comparable mid-market scale, university (Purdue) partnership model, and tech-park-style incubation programs.
• OneZone Chamber: Chamber of Commerce serving Hamilton County and northern Indianapolis suburbs. Comparable membership-driven chamber model with Flagship/Diamond partner tiers and event programming similar to Greater Kokomo's structure.
• Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Northeast Indiana integrated economic development organization combining chamber, EDO, and downtown functions. Comparable unified structure serving a similar-sized Indiana mid-market, with overlapping employer base and university partnerships.

Regional players

• Visit Indy: Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association operating a comparable destination marketing/CVB function alongside convention venue operations. Closest operating analog to Greater Kokomo's Visitors Bureau and the upcoming Kokomo Conference Center.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kokomochamber
• Instagraminstagram.com/kokomochamber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance