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Reasons to Join

What is a Chamber of Commerce and what does it do?

The Chamber is a membership organization for area businesses which strives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life of Erie County, Ohio, and seeks to attract new business, new industries to the area while retaining and growing existing business. The Chamber does this by offering cost saving benefit programs, educational and networking opportunities, business resources, exposure opportunities and government advocacy to protect and advance the interest of business. The Erie County Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit (501c6) organization. The Chamber is not a government body.

Here are some important reasons why business people that own a company or work for a company want to join the Erie County Chamber of Commerce.

According to a research study done by The Shapiro Group, Inc. and Market Street Services, when consumers know that a small business is a member of their local chamber of commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it and 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.

Reason #1- Being a member of a sizable chamber that not only services all of Erie County, Ohio it also includes members in Cleveland, Toledo and many other areas in our region. This makes perfect sense! Membership brings credibility to your business. It helps increase perception among consumers and business owners when you’re identified as a member of the chamber of commerce.

Reason #2- Increase your visibility in the community. As a new member of the chamber you will be listed in the membership directory, take part in bi-weekly e-newsletters, have opportunities for your business to be highlighted in several different chamber publications. Also, as a member you are able to sponsor events which are a great way to get your business name noticed. The chamber offers low cost advertising and marketing campaigns to help support and assist with public relations efforts such as doing a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a chamber member open house to provide that opportunity for meeting some of the chamber board members, chamber ambassadors and other members to attend and celebrate the new member business.

Reason #3- • Creating and building networking opportunities. Our chamber has several committees such as the Ambassador Committee, Board of Selectors Committee, Government Affairs Committee, Business Services Committee. Many of our members have served on one or more of these committees and enjoyed being able to meet, network and be involved in professional leadership. What we can do as a collective to positively benefit and affect our members and our entire region is never ending.

Reason #4- Acquire customer referrals. Every day, your Erie County Chamber receives calls from individuals and businesses looking for potential vendors. Chamber members typically recommend using one of our chamber members because they are part of a very important network that you can trust.

Reason #5- Make business contacts. The chamber’s most fundamental mission is to generate more business activity for the community. The chamber initiates more business-to-business commerce and more opportunities for networking and connecting our local professionals than any other community organization.