2026-2027 20 Under 40 Application - Opelika Chamber of Commerce

2026-2027 20 Under 40 Application

Opelika’s 20 Under 40, a program of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, is seeking 20 outstanding individuals under the age of 40 who live in Opelika, are passionate about the community, and have a vested interest in shaping the city’s future.

Applicants for Opelika’s 20 Under 40 program should be passionate young professionals who live in Opelika, care deeply about the community, and have a vested interest in shaping the future of the city through leadership, civic involvement, and professional growth. Candidates must meet the following qualifications for consideration:

Live in Opelika
Be 40 years of age or younger at the time of the application deadline
Tuition cost of $625.00

To apply, applicants MUST complete the application and provide provide a resume and one letter of recommendation about why you would be a good class member.

The deadline to apply is Friday, June 19th, 2026.

Learn more about Opelika's 20 Under 40 at https://www.opelikachamber.com/leadership-development/20-under-40/.

Fields marked with an * are required.

First Name *

Last Name *

Organization *

Phone *

Email *

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2 *

City *

State *

Postal Code *

Date of Birth *

Age *

If nominated by someone, please include their name and email address below:

Is this your first time applying for the 20 Under 40 program? *

Yes

Program Payment *

The tuition cost to participate in the program is $625.00. The tuition is not due with the application but is due within 30 days if you are selected for the program. Payment can be completed with a check or by card. There are three ways to pay for the program:

Pay for yourself
Have your Business Sponsor you
Apply for the Opelika Chamber’s Scholarship (see scholarship application on webpage to apply).

Please select if you are planning to:

Pay for Yourself

Business Sponsor

Apply for Scholarship

Are you (or your company) a member of the Opelika Chamber? *

Yes

Have you informed your employer that you have applied for this program? *

Yes

Please list any accommodation needs or dietary restrictions.

Please list your t-shirt size. *

Application Question #1 *

What interests you the most about Opelika's 20 Under 40 program? What makes you a good fit for the program?

Application Question #2 *

What do you expect to gain from participating in the program?

Application Question #3 *

As a resident of Opelika, what role would you like to play in its future progress?

Application Question #4 *

Please share your favorite Opelika experience.

Application Question #5 *

Please list your volunteer and leadership experience.

Application Question #6 *

Part of this program is completing a community service project, please list 3 non-profit organizations you are interested in serving.

Application Question #7 *

Please include a short biography for the newspaper if you are select to the program. (Ex: Bob Smith is a Professor at Southern Union State Community College. Prior to joining Southern Union, Bob served as an 10th grade history teacher. He completed his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Georgia. Bob has lived in Opelika for 5 years with his wife Jill.)

Please upload your resume. *

A resume is required to complete your application. If you’re unable to upload them at this time, please have them emailed directly to saffron@opelikachamber.com.

All letters must be submitted no later than June 19th to be considered.

20MB max

Please upload one Recommendation Letter.

A letter of recommendation is required to complete your application. If you’re unable to upload them at this time, please have them emailed directly to saffron@opelikachamber.com.

All letters must be submitted no later than June 19th to be considered.

20MB max

Please verify that you have checked the “I'm not a robot” checkbox.