The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is offering a new student membership designed to connect Troy University students with local businesses, community leaders and professional development opportunities.
The annual membership costs $25 and is available exclusively to Troy University students. Memberships will be billed annually on Jan. 1. The partnership will be formally announced during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Sorrell Corporate Partnership Program at 10 a.m. Sept. 22.
The Chamber owns the membership, while Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business and IDEA Bank will help activate the program and connect students with participating businesses and community organizations.
“This partnership and the Chamber’s new student membership give our students more opportunities to connect with local businesses and community leaders while preparing for their careers,” said Dr. Steve Grice, interim dean of the Sorrell College of Business. “Our students are an important part of this community, and during their time at TROY, we want them to build meaningful relationships, gain valuable experience and see the possibilities for their futures here in Pike County and beyond.”
The initiative is designed to create an affordable entry point for students while building a student-to-business pipeline in Pike County.
“We are thrilled about this new era of collaboration — a partnership that blends the energy of tomorrow’s leaders with the resources of today’s business community,” said Bethany Grimes, president and CEO of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. “This membership is more than a connection; it’s a commitment to empower students, open doors to career opportunities, and foster a culture of innovation and service.”
Student members will receive admission to Chamber networking events, including Business After Hours, as well as student-specific networking events conducted in partnership with the Sorrell College of Business.
Additional benefits include a directory listing on the Chamber’s website in a student category that identifies the student’s name and major, opportunities to meet local business owners and community leaders, and inclusion in a student resume book available to Chamber members.
The membership also provides access to a student job and internship board featuring opportunities submitted by Chamber members. Students will have access to Lunch and Learns, educational programming, workshops, professional development and mentorship opportunities.
“Our goal for the Chamber’s student membership is to provide a pathway for students to connect one-on-one with the Pike County business community, while also connecting our Chamber members with engaged students,” Grimes said. “Our hope is that these relationships will lead to future employment and other workforce opportunities within our community.”
The partnership is intended to benefit both students and local businesses by creating opportunities for professional networking, career development and workforce recruitment.
“Investing in an exclusive Troy University student membership means investing in Troy’s future workforce — it strengthens our Chamber today while building the leadership pipeline of tomorrow,” Grimes said.
Troy University students interested in the connections and resources available through the Chamber’s Troy University Student Membership can visit pikecoc.com to join.
