Why Join?
“What does the Chamber do?”
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. It’s reasonable. A Chamber of Commerce is not the type of organization that is an obvious part of everyday life for the average person. But just because it may work in the background, does not mean that it is not an important and useful entity.
In this four part series, we hope to bring awareness to what the Chamber of Commerce does for local businesses and communities, and what benefits you could be getting for your small business.
Membership Benefit #1: Referrals & Directory Listings
We receive calls and emails every week from people looking for a dog sitter, a photographer, a realtor, someone to fix their HVAC, or a good gift shop. We are a resource for the community to find the businesses and experts they’re looking for, and a resource for businesses to get their name out there in pinpointed advertising. We do this both by answering direct inquiries, and by curating a directory of our members on our website.
Membership Benefit #2: Educational Resources
Creating a thriving business and keeping it that way takes a lot of effort, but it also takes a lot of information. It’s our job to offer resources to support you in educating yourself and answering the many questions that arise. We do this by:
Hosting educational classes. These are open to the public, and members get a discount on attendance fees.
Connecting you with experts that specialize in your areas of need.
Curating a Business Resource Library to help you find books, videos, podcasts, and classes (coming soon).
Membership Benefit #3: Advertising & Marketing
Along with referrals and curating a business directory, there are other ways we help spread the word about our members, and connect businesses with their potential customers.
Regular promotion of your business on social media
Newsletter ads
Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening ceremonies
Calendar listings of your business’s events on our website
Membership Benefit #4: Networking
Networking is a vital part of running a business. Not only does it allow you to put a face to your business name and find new customers, but it’s also an opportunity to find employees, mentors, collaborators, and community to support you in your business’s growth.
Our Chamber Business Bites Tours and our Annual Dinner are two great opportunities for networking.
In the coming year we will also focus on hosting industry shows, job fairs, and other networking related events.
If you’d like to learn more, or have ideas on how we can better serve you, please feel free to call or email. We’d love to set up an appointment!
