11/14/2025
Chamber Closure Update: Supporting Our Community One Last Time
Dear Members
As you all know, back in June 2025 the Rains County Chamber Board decided to disband the Chamber. We held off, for a few months, to see if someone or a group wanted to step up and take over the Chamber. We talked with several professionals in the area over the last 5 months, but all were in the agreement that the Chamber had been going down hill for quite a few years now and the interest was just not there, and we needed to just let it go.
We did have a public meeting a few weeks ago and received some interest but most of the ideas were to either start something new or go a different route. So, with that said we will be closing the Chamber down going with the following dates.
November 17th 2025
Chamber Phone Number turned off
Chamber Website, all subscriptions and accounts settled and closed
November 21st 2025
Bank Accounts closed and any funds distributed to 2 Rains County area Non-Profits
November 30th 2025
Chamber Storage Building emptied
Chamber page closed
Documentation sent to the IRS and State of closing status
Please refer to the Rains County of Commerce page for any updates until November 30th. The RCCC page will remain open online but maybe given a new name.
Going forward we do have a group that is wanting to start something more updated and new for our county and businesses. Two ideas were the Business Network International and the Rains County Business Alliance. For more information refer to our Rains County Chamber page. I have included a letter below from Nick Nichols, with his contact information. He is one of the people working on this and is anxious to answer questions, get ideas and give out information. He will be your contact person going forward.
Thank you for letting us get to know you and work with you in your businesses and community. This will be our closing letter.
Sincerely,
Kathy D Layne
Teresa Aguilar
Joanna Kestler
Shica Conley
Dear RCC Members,
As many of you know, the Rains County Chamber of Commerce is going through a transition period. During this time, some local business leaders have begun exploring a new regional initiative called the East Texas Business Alliance (ETBA) — a group focused on connecting, supporting, and promoting small businesses across East Texas.
If you’d like to learn more, receive updates, or share input as the ETBA develops, please contact Nick Nichols directly at [email protected] or 214-802-7660.
This could be a great opportunity to stay connected and help shape what comes next for our local business community.
Warm regards,
Nick Nichols
Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor
No-Nonsense Bookkeeping
Cash Flow Leak Detection
ServiceGrowthAdvisors.com • 214-802-7660
