Did you know that the first known use of the term “chamber of commerce” occurred in France in the late 17th century, and the oldest chamber of commerce in America is that of the state of New York, organized in 1768?
By 1870, the number of local chambers of commerce had increased to 40. Today, there are over 7,000 chambers in the United States. Out of those today, only 200 are accredited by the U.S. Chamber and only 136 are rated as 5-star -- the best of the best.
The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has once again recognized our Chamber as one of its 5-star accredited chambers.
"This is a prestigious honor and recognizes the Chamber for its outstanding contributions toward making positive change in our community," said President/CEO Raymond Burns. "It’s also acknowledgement from industry peers for the chamber’s expertise, strong leadership and results fostering a pro-business environment."
By earning Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber shows its dedication to:
- Reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices
- Recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community
- Supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at federal, state, and local levels
- Establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes
Accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce is the only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities. There are over 900 chambers that have participated in the program since 1964.
