Special Events

Community Awards

The Community Awards is held in January of each year,  and is a celebration of participation in the Chamber and the community.  Typically, the event has had a movie theme, as selected by the outgoing Chairman of the Board.

Nominations are accepted from Chamber members and citizens, for the following categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Public Servant of the Year
• Corporation of the Year
• Small Business of the Year
• Non-Profit of the Year
• Member of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year
• Woman of the Year
• Man of the Year
   

The nominees are then voted upon by past winners from the respective categories and the current Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  Winners receive awards at the Community Awards dinner, which is open to the community as a whole (not restricted to Chamber members).  High visibility sponsorships are available for this event for marketing, as well as individual tickets, and full tables.

Results of our 2018 Community Awards, held January 31, 2019:

Our annual Community Awards was Thursday, January 31st at Asia Times Square! This community-wide event, open to members and non-members alike honored businesses and citizens. 

Outgoing Board Chairman Richard Whitman and 2019 Chairman of the Board Alex Godina of Texas Trust Credit Union had us laughing and celebrating as we handed out awards!

Our winners:

Citizen of the Year: Dr. Janelle Bicknell
Public Service: Assistant Police Chief Daniel Scesney
Corporation of the Year: Stripe-A Zone
Small Business of the Year: Bon Air Service Company
Member of the Year: Barry Sanders, Valpak of Dallas
Volunteer of the Year: Sara Dedeluk
Grand Prairie Chamber Business of the Year: Walmart 161 and I20
Non-Profit of the Year: Children First Counseling Center
Woman of the Y ear: Dandreon Gray of Helping Us Help Her
Man of the Year: Clayton Fisher, Dix-Fisher Financial Consulting
Superman: Victor Bejar, Coaching Center
Wonder Woman: Karen Davis, La Quinta Inn & Suites & Home2 Suites

Congratulations to all our winners!

Check out pictures here: 2018 Community Award Photos

State of the City

The State of the City is an event in which the Mayor of Grand Prairie addresses citizens on the current year, as well as events important to Grand Prairie in the year to come.   This is a fantastic evening event, historically held at the Ruthe Jackson Center, and has been sold out in the past. Individual tickets as well as full tables, are available.

This event also features a silent auction, with a wide array of items.  Chamber members can donate items for the auction, and it provides further visibility and another great marketing opportunity, exclusive to Chamber members.

2019's State of the City address can be seen here: Mayor Ron Jensen 2019 State of City

Candidates Forum

The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce assembles a "Candidates Forum" annually to provide a venue to hear the upcoming political and school board candidates present their answers on questions posed live.

We appreciate all of the candidates who were able to join us on April 18th, 2019 to give us some insight into their goals and perspectives. 

You may watch the Candidates' Forum by clicking here.

Thank you to GPISD for the gracious use of the venue and the recording of our forum, to Herb Rolph of the Thompson Group Chevrolet as our moderator, and our timer, Kevin Krajewski of Transparent Energy.

Review the Candidate Forum Guide here.  

Life and Business on High Heels

This is a newer, annual panel-event focused on the journeys and successes women in business.  The Chamber brings in local, well-known panelists as they share personal insight to our Chamber audience and field questions.  This is a MUST for any business person, and sponsorship opportunities are available!

Golf Classic

The Golf Classic takes place in May, historically at Tangle Ridge Golf Course.  The event starts early in the day with registration and breakfast, and the Mayor joins us for the shotgun start.  Give aways, raffle tickets and special events at selected holes, followed up with a lunch and awards at the conclusion of the day.  This event is open to members and non-members, alike.

Sponsorship opportunities are available to members and include hole sponsorships, either shared or exclusive, drink cart sponsors, breakfast and lunch sponsors, as well as adding your company's promotional items to the swag bags given to each golfer.

Striking Up Business

Striking Up Business is the Chamber's annual bowling event, designed for fun and networking.  Members can register as either teams of three or individuals.  Historically, this event has taken place at Forum Bowl, in the heart of Grand Prairie, and has the marketing opportunity of "Presenting Sponsor" available.  Whether you're a great bowler or just coming out to network and have a laugh, join us and maybe you'll even take home a trophy!

Taste of Grand Prairie

We invite you to experience the best of our community!  Held in September at Trader's Village, the focus of this partnership event with the City of Grand Prairie is to highlight and promote local businesses, both community and chamber wide. Our purpose is to educate the community about local companies and the many products and services available to them, as well as to provide exhibitors with an additional marketing tool with which to promote their products and broaden their customer base.

Booths and a variety of other marketing opportunities are available!

Enjoy over 70 exhibitors that will be showcasing and providing samples of the BEST they have to offer! There are many booths where you can taste great food and a wide variety of drinks. Don't miss out on the carnival rides, There is a public silent auction, door prizes and much more! This is definitely a family-friendly event!

Hours of Operation:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Senior Citizens Hour
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Open to the Public
Silent Auction Closes at 7:30 PM

Food Booth Packet

Business Booth Packet

For more information as this event nears, visit: http://www.tasteofgp.com/

Pictures with Santa at Prairie Lights

The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, as a guest to the City of Grand Prairie's Parks and Recreation Prairie Lights event, provides visits and photos with Santa Claus at the big tent at Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake.

Photos with Santa is manned by Chamber staff, the Board of Directors and student volunteers.  Sponsorship opportunities are available, including envelope sponsor, for envelopes in which photos are sold to visitors. 

This is a magical event, which starts on Thanksgiving evening, and concludes on December 23rd and is a tradition for many families who have come to see Santa at the Chamber's Pictures with Santa for years.  The Chamber treats this as a special opportunity to provide a fantastic service along side the stellar customer service modeled by the City of Grand Prairie's Parks and Recreation.

For more information on Prairie Lights as this event approaches, visit: https://prairielights.org/

Pictures with Santa at Trader's Village

Pictures with Santa at Trader's Village takes place under the big red canopy on weekends, beginning after Thanksgiving, concluding the weekend before Christmas.  This event is graciously hosted by Trader's Village.

This event is staffed by Chamber staff and volunteers. Sponsorship opportunities are available.