JACKSON, Tenn. — The Legacy Chamber of West Tennessee is opening applications for its new Chamber Preferred Vendor Program, a member-exclusive network that connects local business owners directly to the Chamber’s contracting, event, and service needs across the West Tennessee region.
The program is built within our standing practice: when the Chamber spends, the Chamber spends with its own members first.
What the Chamber Preferred Vendor Program Is.
The Chamber Preferred Vendor Program (CPVP) is a vetted list of active member businesses eligible to be considered for Chamber-related work. That includes the organization’s own purchasing, event contracting for programs like the 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic, and referral opportunities generated by member businesses and event sponsors seeking local providers.
Approved vendors are added to the Preferred Vendor List and notified by email as opportunities become available.
Service categories include:
• Catering and food service
• Printing and signage
• Photography and videography
• Sound, AV, and production
• Décor and event design
• Graphic design, web, and marketing
• Event setup and logistics
• Security services
• Hospitality and staffing
• Professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, consulting, musical services and more)
Opportunities range from paid contracts to volunteer and exposure-based placements. Both are stated up front, and vendors indicate on their application which they are open to.
A Message From the Executive Director
“Everyone talks about supporting small business. We’d rather show our receipts. If we’re asking West Tennessee business owners to invest in this Chamber, our dollars need to move back through them first.”— Deswick Bonds Jr., Executive Director
Who Qualifies
To be considered for the Chamber Preferred Vendor Program, a business must meet all three requirements:
- 1. Active registered business in the State of Tennessee — in good standing with the Tennessee Secretary of State
2. Located in a West Tennessee county — the Chamber serves the West Tennessee region, including Madison, Haywood, Gibson, Crockett, Henderson, Hardeman, Chester, Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton, Shelby and Fayette counties and more.
3. Active Legacy Chamber member in good standing — dues current at the time of application review
Businesses that are not yet members may apply for membership and vendor consideration in the same step. Membership is the entry point to the program.
Why Membership Is Required
The Chamber Preferred Vendor Program is a member benefit, and that requirement is intentional.
Chamber membership funds the programming, advocacy, and events that create the vendor opportunities in the first place. Members who invest in the organization should be first in line for the work the organization generates. Restricting the list to members in good standing also gives the Chamber a baseline of accountability — every vendor on the list is an organization the Chamber has an ongoing relationship with.
For service-based businesses, sole proprietors, and small operators, the program often represents the clearest, most immediate return a chamber membership can offer.
How to Apply
Applications for the Chamber Preferred Vendor Program open Friday, August 7, 2026 at legacychamberwesttn.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being on the list guarantee I will get work?
No. Listing means your business is eligible to be considered. Selections are made based on scope, capacity, availability, and fit for each specific need.
Are all opportunities paid?
No. Some opportunities are paid contracts and some are volunteer or exposure-based. Applicants indicate which they are open to, and opportunities are identified clearly when they are sent out.
Can I apply if my business is outside West Tennessee?
The program is limited to businesses located within a West Tennessee county. Businesses outside the region are still welcome to join the Chamber as members.
What if I’m not a Chamber member yet?
You can join and apply in the same step. Membership must be active and in good standing at the time your application is reviewed.
How often is the list reviewed?
Reoccurring basis. Vendors must maintain active membership to remain on the list.
How will I know when an opportunity is available?
Approved vendors receive opportunity notifications by email. The Chamber also circulates member and sponsor requests through the list.
Can businesses owned by Chamber staff or board members apply?
Yes, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements. Vendors affiliated with Chamber staff or board members are disclosed, and those individuals are recused from selection decisions involving their own businesses.
About the Legacy Chamber of West Tennessee
Founded in 1999, the Legacy Chamber of West Tennessee is a regional chamber of commerce headquartered in Jackson, Tennessee, serving business owners and entrepreneurs across the West Tennessee region through advocacy, education, networking, and economic development programming.
Follow: @legacychamberwesttn