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NEWCOMER BASIC INFORMATION HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF COMMERCE Commerce was formally incorporated on September 25, 1885—which is why the Bois d’Arc Bash occurs on the nearest weekend. Starting with a population of 145, the town has grown to just over 9,600 with Texas A&M University-Commerce adding another 9,000 with its enrollment. In 1873, William Jernigin erected a general merchandise store on his farm near the present downtown – only a mile west of the rival Jackson store, a grist mill that had been around since the early 1850’s, in the village of Cow Hill. As commerce continued to flourish, Jackson finally moved his business to Commerce. Soon to follow was the Post Office, originally known as Ashland. When Jernigin generously gave a section of land for a town square, businesses thrived – the nearest competition being Greenville to the west, Ladonia to the north and Black Jack Grove to the south. In 1919, store-front owners on the square were assessed so much per food to pay for paving, completing the project within a year. They did a fine job, too, as most of the historic brick was saved during the 1985 downtown refurbishing.
BOIS D’ARC CAPITAL OF TEXAS The Bois d’Arc tree, known for the hardness of its wood and its distinctive green “apples,” is the focus of an annual community festival held each September. The Bois d’Arc tree is indigenous to a total of 10,000 square miles in the rich bottom lands of Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas. It has been spread by man across the United States and the world. The tree is known for its hardness, flexibility, durability and resistance to contact with moisture and soil. Due to its many uses, it is an important part of the history and folklore of Northeast Texas, and thus the first festival in Commerce in 1985 was called the Bois d’Arc Bash. Its many uses include fence posts, house foundation blocks, and hedges for fields of crops to keep animals out. The Chamber of Commerce at 1114 Main downtown has a display of many iems made out of bois d’arc wood. Commerce honors its heritage each year by hosting the Bois d’Arc Bash – a time of celebration, fun and entertainment. The Bash includes: Car Show, arts and crafts, youth pageant, parade, 5K run, children’s activities, wine tasting event, music and food. CITY OF COMMERCE City Hall, located at 1119 Alamo Street, is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone number is 903 886-1100. Utilities Electricity is provided by Oncor Electric Delivery, 1-800-242-9113 or other whatever electrical sources you may choose. You can go to powertochoose.com, enter your zip code and determine what is available in this area. Atmos Energy at 800 460-3030 is available for gas service. Police Services Fire Services Parks and Recreation Animal Control Trash Collection Telephone and Cable Services Internet Services VEHICLE REGISTRATION Renewal of driver’s licenses are necessary if the information changes on them, such as name, address or expiration. You must go to the Department of Public Safety, Driver’s License, Justice Center, 2801 Stuart Street, Greenville, TX., 903 453-6916. AUTOMOBILE INSPECTION Your vehicle must be inspected for safety once a year by any approved auto dealership, service center, garage or service station. For a complete listing, look in the yellow pages of the Commerce telephone book. After your car has passed inspection, a sticker will be affixed to the lower left corner of the windshield. CAR LICENSE TAG REGISTRATION Your vehicle must be registered once a year. This may be done at 2500 Stonewall in Greenville, 903 408-4000 or on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office at 1114 Main, Commerce, 903 886-3009. POST OFFICES The Main Post Office is located at 1300 Park Street near downtown, 903 886-3986. The other is located in the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University-Commerce, 903 886-6965. Box rental and counter service are available at both. PUBLIC SCHOOLS Administrative Office 903 886-3755
COMMERCE PUBLIC LIBRARY 1210 Park Street Hours Services Preschool Storytime Summer Reading Program for Maude Noyes Johnson Room Available Housing for an office for the Commerce Literacy Program Application forms for a library card may be obtained at the Library. Proof of current address must be completed before a card will be issued. Library cards are non-expiring and there is no charge for initial card. Replacement card costs $3.00. The Library is a member of the Northeast Texas Library System whose membership includes most of the public libraries in 32 northeast Texas counties. NET LS provides equipment, books, and tapes on a loan basis, plus consulting and programming services. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Would your business benefit from training or private counseling with a certified business counselor? This Center offers training for small businesses and free counseling to expand and improve your business. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 903 886-3950, or email Pat Bell at pbell@parisjc.edu for our training needs or to schedule an appointment with a consultant. Pat Bell, Director – Paris Junior College, 2400 Clarksville, Paris, Texas 75460
MEDICAL SERVICES Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville, Loop 380 903 408-5000 Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce, 2901 Sterling Hart 903 886-3161 Oak Manor Nursing Home, 2900 Sterling Hart 903 886-2512 Country Home Estates Retirement and Life Care Live Oak Professional Medical Center, 1705 Live Oak 903 886-8818 Dr. Suzanne Monday , 1700 Washington 903 886-9900
WHAT CAN THE CHAMBER DO FOR YOU? IT ANSWERS YOUR MAIL……replies to scores of inquiries about Commerce and the surrounding area about your business and you, it answers every inquiry fully, promptly, courteously, creating favorable impressions and building esteem for your business, and you…..Truly the Front Door of our community. IT’S YOUR SPOKESMAN…..your voice on questions of taxation and legislation. It represents you at legislative hearings and budget sessions…works for you to achieve the best possible price. It supports measures that are good for our area and opposes those, which are detrimental. IT’S YOUR BUSINESS AGENT……always ready to lend a helping hand. It performs services to existing industries and business firms, conducts surveys and studies, helps create more payroll dollars for the area. IT’S YOUR ADVOCATE…..improves community understanding of the free enterprise system face to face, frank exchanges of views between local businesses and their political representatives. IT’S YOUR TRAINING AGENT….conducts seminars and workshops on subjects of concern or interest to business, equips business people with the tools they need to do business in the modern marketplace, provides small business management assistance through SBA representatives and the Small Business Development Center. IT’S YOUR INFORMATION BUREAU...it furnishes you with up-to-the-minute data to help you conduct your business, facts on business trends, population, market potentials, taxes, employment practices, state and federal laws, sends you bulletins, reports, saves you time and money…keeps you posted on new developments affecting your business. IT’S YOUR GOODWILL AMBASSADOR....…it tells the nation about commercial, cultural, convention and recreational facilities, brings new business to our area and increases your enjoyment of the city where you live…helps local businesses to obtain maximum benefit from tourism. IT’S YOUR VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY…the rallying point for every civic movement whose objective is the benefit of the entire community…the central organization in which you and your fellow businessmen join hands to promote the projects that benefit you, your family, your business, and your community. IT MULTIPLIES YOUR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE COMMUNITY…by providing the structure, volunteer leadership, and full time office operation to implement an effective program to meet the needs of a growing community. Why Should I Be a Member of
Application for Commerce Chamber of Commerce Membership To the Chamber Board of Directors: Application is hereby made for an annual membership in the Commerce Chamber of Commerce beginning___________________, 2007 through December 31, 2007. ( Membership is contingent on two-thirds majority vote of Board of Directors at next Monthly Meeting.) (For dues prorated for a partial year, see notes below.) Business (or Individual) Name:_______________________________________________________ Business Description:___________________________________________________ No. of Full-time Employees_____________ Business Phone:____________ _________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP DUES INFORMATION
Notes
Dues may be mailed to Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 290, Commerce, TX 75429 |