Membership in associations and other professional societies has its undeniable benefits. One way for local businesses to succeed is through membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce’s 13,000 chapters operate in many U.S. cities and virtually every region and state in the country.
By joining a local Chamber of Commerce, small businesses receive significant support. This includes new contacts, assistance in applying for government grants, and lobbying with legislative and regulatory bodies that set business rules.
The Chamber of Commerce advocates for the interests of all of its members, not just those who are, conventionally speaking, “on Main Street.” For example, the Elgin County Chamber of Commerce in suburban Chicago has 550 businesses, including two hospitals, a peanut distributor, a large school district and several social service agencies.
For the city of Park City, Utah, tourism and recreation is truly big business. “The Park City Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1965 to attract visitors to the city’s first ski resort, merged with the Convention and Business Bureau in 1981, and this has greatly enhanced its credibility and influence in shaping local policy,” notes Chamber spokesman Dan Howard.
Today, Park City, a town of 8,000 people, is home to two major ski resorts. It is also known for its international film festival. The city has 400 miles of modern trails for bicyclists and walking paths for tourists, fashionable hotels, and ski equipment manufacturers. World-class athletes train.Historically, the Chamber, which has more than 1,000 members, has supported a hotel tax. Today, it brings in $8 million a year to the city, much of which is spent on promoting tourism-related businesses. The Chamber works to promote environmentally responsible tourism and manages resources by equitably distributing revenue to all local residents. The goal is to create as many permanent, not seasonal, jobs for locals as possible.According to Howard, “Along with creating a favorable environment for business development, it’s about balance, the quality of life for local residents.”Startups are welcomed, and ceremonies are held where elected officials, business owners and other local leaders traditionally cut a symbolic ribbon on the day new members are inducted into the Chamber.How it all beganChambers of Commerce trace their origins back to 1599, when they first appeared in Marseilles, France. The first such organization in America was the New York Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1768, back in the colonial period, during the time of King George III.
Today, the U.S. National Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1912, is the world’s largest business association. According to spokeswoman Michelle Koepp, about 1,500 federal and local government agencies work closely with the Chamber’s political experts, lawyers and public relations specialists. In all, the National Chamber of Commerce represents 3 million businesses.
According to Bob Ross, first vice president of the Greater Topeka Partnership in Kansas, “[Chambers] enable businesses to interact with each other, represent their interests, and advocate for social equity and justice.”
