Chamber History

The Midland Chamber of Commerce filed to be a chartered corporation with the State of Texas. They received government approval in 1931, officially making them a legal entity.

The Midland Chamber of Commerce took the lead in bringing commercial airline services to Midland. Continental Airlines was the first carrier to serve Midland in 1944 (Pioneer Airlines) from what is now Midland Air Park, with American Airlines coming in 1947 making Midland the center of aviation for the Permian Basin. The new Midland Regional Airport opened its doors in the early 1960’s. Throughout the years, Midland Chamber of Commerce continued its work to bring other commercial airlines to the Midland Regional Airport, like Frontier and Wise Airlines in 1983.

In 1987, the Midland Chamber established an “International Port of Entry” status for the airport, opening doors for foreign trade and travel, thus creating the Midland International Airport.

The mission of the M-Squad is to represent the Midland Chamber of Commerce as goodwill ambassadors. The original M-Squad was created in 1946, consisting of 10 male ambassadors with baby blue blazers. Women were welcomed into the M-Squad in 1954, bringing the count to 15 total members. The program took a hiatus the same year, but returned in 1964 with 30 members all wearing the signature royal blue blazers. Another hiatus was taken in 1968, until the program returned once again in 1980. This time, there were 100 members and a wait-list to become an M-Squad Ambassador! The program has continued and flourished since, with members sporting their signature royal blue blazers.

The United Way of Midland, formerly known as “Community Chest,” was created by the Civic Affairs Committee of the Midland Chamber of Commerce in 1947. They were able to raise $25,000 for six agencies. Eventually, Community Chest established its own board of directors and became its own nonprofit organization. In 1967, it was renamed the “Midland United Fund.”

Midland Memorial Hospital, a four-story 75-bed facility, opened in Midland in July of 1950. The idea for Midland Memorial Hospital came into being at a Chamber board meeting. The Chamber of Commerce’s committee recommended that a charitable nonprofit corporation, Midland Memorial Foundation, be formed to solicit contributions for the purpose of building and operating a hospital. Twenty-five Midland citizens were selected to serve on the Board of Governors. Funded by private donations and a government grant and built on 7 acres of land donated by two families, ground was broken for the hospital in 1948.

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association was proposed by a “group of oilmen concerned about the federal government’s growing regulatory role.” It received overwhelming approval as representatives from over 20 cities and counties met in Midland to hear plans for accumulating data to be presented during a federal power commission hearing. The meeting sponsored Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce to set up procedures to be followed in gathering economic information. In 1961, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association was officially born.

The Midland Chamber of Commerce had a hand in establishing Midland College. In 1958, the Midland Chamber coordinated a survey to gauge public interest for a college in Midland. Once public interest was heard, the eventual passing of Senate Bill 19 allowed the citizens of Midland to hold an election to secede from the Permian Basin Junior College system. In December 1972, the $5.1 million bond issue to support the creation of Midland College was passed.

The Midland Chamber’s Leadership Midland program was founded in 1978, with the first class taking place the same year on November 9. Just as the program is run now, students spent a full workday once a month for eight months to familiarize themselves with areas of Midland, including health, the criminal justice system, the business world, government, the petroleum industry, education, and various service agencies. Today, there are over 1,300 graduates and community leaders that have come out of the Leadership Midland program!

The interest for an auditorium in Midland began in 1963. The Midland County Commissioners Court commended the Chamber of Commerce and its Coliseum-Auditorium Committee on their stand that citizens of Midland County should have the opportunity to have their ideas incorporated into a proposed coliseum. It wasn’t until December of 1976 that a $2 million bond issue was passed by voters for the exhibit center. After many delays, he Midland Center officially opened for business with its 12,500 square foot exhibit hall in 1980. Under a management agreement with the City of Midland, the Chamber has since provided administrative services and management oversight of the Midland Center.

Keep Midland Beautiful, originally known as “Clean Midland, Inc.,” was established in 1983 as an initiative of the Midland Chamber of Commerce. Its primary purpose was to make Midland cleaner and more attractive and to promote various ongoing litter-reduction programs for business, civic, education and community groups. Today, it operates as a separate local nonprofit!

In 1993, TXDot studied the extension of I-27 to I-20 and I-10. Community and business leaders in the Permian Basin united to promote a Permian Basin Route. MOTRAN (Midland/Odessa Transportation Alliance) was officially created in 1997 and supported by the Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce, the Cities of Midland and Odessa, and Midland and Ector Counties in efforts to encourage the development of Highway 349 and FM 1788 with local and state representatives, as a part of the La Entrada Al Pacifico.

In 2002, the Midland Development Corporation (MDC) was established to “promote business expansion, job creation, and capital investment to diversify and strengthen the Midland economy.” Later that same year, MDC selected the Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Division to manage the new economic development program, funded by a quarter-cent economic development sales tax. Today, a board appointed by the Midland City Council governs the Midland Development Corporation.

Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.

While there are over 7,000 chambers of commerce in the U.S., only 3% (just over 200 chambers) are accredited. This achievement highlights the Chamber’s dedication and commitment to be the best resource possible for Midland’s business community.

New renderings of the Bush Convention Center were created with the decision to demolish the old Midland Center. The City of Midland purchased the Chamber of Commerce offices located next to the Midland Center in order to continue with building plans. The Bush Convention Center opened its doors in the fall of 2019, hosting the Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting for their first official event. The Chamber continues to provide administrative services and management oversight of the Bush Convention Center.

In 2020, Centennial Park officially reopened in the heart of Downtown Midland. The Midland Chamber was honored to have the opportunity to assist in its beginnings by aiding in managing the park during its first year of operations. Located next to the Bush Convention Center, this premiere greenspace is operated, programmed, and managed by the Midland Downtown Park Conservancy to transform two central blocks in downtown Midland into a vibrant outdoor destination.”

In 2020, the Midland Chamber was honored with four-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber. This level of recognition is given to chambers who “demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and effective communications by meeting minimum operation and program standards in the areas of governance, program development, government affairs, and technology.”