A critical component to building a strong economy that will continue to grow is establishing and growing a diverse community of local businesses. The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce’s primary focus is to help local businesses expand and thrive, and fostering an environment that supports business growth.
The Gainesville Chamber, a 5-star accredited chamber of commerce, is ranked in the top 1% of chambers of commerce nationwide, and much of that success can be attributed to the collaboration had between the Chamber and the key business partners in the community. The Chamber is supported by the members it serves, but a select group of members have taken the initiative to contribute even more to the Chamber and the business community at-large. They’re called the Circle of Champions — a group of diverse business leaders in the community who provide year-round sponsorship of all Chamber programming and events. Through their investment in the growth and development of local businesses, the Chamber has the ability to create a wide variety of programs and resources to help every industry succeed in our regional area.
Many people look to the Chamber’s membership to find reputable and trustworthy businesses, so much so that studies have shown a 73% increase in consumers being aware of a business that is a member of its local chamber of commerce. A survey measuring a consumer’s positive thoughts about a business showed a 68% increase in favorable impressions if the business was a chamber member. And, a whopping 80% of those surveyed said they would continue visiting the business if the business was a chamber member. For our Circle of Champions, these statistics are good news! That’s because we showcase the Circle of Champions every opportunity we get. Circle investors receive premiere placement of their company logos on all printed materials, our website, all chamber events, and throughout our marketing arsenal not to mention they also receive invitations to select, high-profile business events year-round.
So, we salute the 2013 Circle of Champions for their investment over the past year, and we look forward to their continued support in the future. For those of us looking to do business in the Gainesville area, be sure to reward our Circle of Champions for their investment in a better community. If you or your business is interested in becoming a Circle Champion, contact the Chamber at 334-7100 and ask for Membership.