The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is a business organization that represents the interests of companies in San Jose, California. It was founded in 1886 and is one of the oldest and most respected chambers of commerce in the United States. The Chamber is a membership-based organization and its membership includes a wide range of businesses from small startups to large corporations.
The mission of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce is to promote and sustain the economic vitality of San Jose and the surrounding communities. The Chamber works to create a business-friendly environment by advocating for policies that support business, providing networking opportunities for its members, and offering resources and support for business development.
The Chamber’s advocacy efforts focus on issues of importance to its members, such as workforce development, transportation infrastructure, taxes and regulations. It also offers a range of programs and services to help businesses grow and prosper, including educational programs, business networking events, and access to business development resources.
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is governed by a board of directors and is staffed by a team of professionals who are dedicated to serving the needs of its members. The Chamber is committed to supporting the economic growth and prosperity of San Jose and its surrounding communities, and it plays an important role in shaping the future of the region’s economy.
The roots of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber go back to 1916, when a small, all-volunteer group of business leaders began meeting regularly to discuss the future of the region. Although there is little information about those early days, a few news stories about the good works of Chamber members can be found during the mid- to late 1910s. For example, on September 30, 1916, the California Cultivator newspaper reported that the Chamber had passed a formal resolution to support the issuance of bonds for road improvements. By 1939, they organized Santa Clara Day at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco.
The Central Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce was formerly known as the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce.
The Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in the State of California on May 23, 1947 after it was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as an official non-profit organization. Thus, even though the SVC Chamber dates back more than three decades, we recognize our official beginning in 1947.
The purpose of the organization was specifically defined:
- To promote, utilize, advertise and inform about the City of Santa Clara and its resources, and the benefits and advantages of living, trading and doing business in the City of Santa Clara;
- To invite and persuade businesses, factories, commercial and industrial firms, corporations and organizations to locate and do business in the City of Santa Clara;
- To promote harmony and good will among the merchants and commercial firms in the City of Santa Clara and to do any and all acts and things in the best interest and for the benefit of the various commercial organizations and all citizens and residents of the City of Santa Clara.
