Become a Member!

Being A Member

Of the Washington Chamber of Commerce comes with many benefits that can boost your business. Regardless of the size of your business, you can enjoy an exceptional return on investment by leveraging your Chamber’s marketing, savings, advocacy, and networking benefits.

Membership brings credibility to your business and increases your visibility in the community. Growing your business is easy by partnering and sponsoring Chamber events, networking at professional functions, and connecting with like-minded businesses in our community.

Joining a chamber of commerce can be a great decision. Below are some of the chamber of commerce membership benefits, along with ways you can get the most out of your membership.

Complimentary Business Diagnostic

Lee Iben with ActionCoach is offering this new benefit exclusively for Chamber Members. With a wealth of experience and a keen eye for identifying opportunities for growth, Lee will assist members in assessing various aspects of their business operations. Find out more information.

Credibility

Being a chamber of commerce member makes your business more desirable to customers. When a small business is a chamber of commerce member, consumers are 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the business in the future (The Schapiro Group, 2012).

A chamber membership can increase your profits because customers view your business more favorably.

Marketing

The Chamber will promote your business. The Washington Chamber of Commerce has many marketing venues, including our website, social media, weekly e-newsletter, Weekly Features, community events, and print advertising. We have a large social media following, so any exposure we give to your business is a plus.

Advocacy

The Washington Chamber acts as a voice for the common interests of our members. If you have a need, problem, or suggestion, put your Chamber to work on it. Or join our Government Affairs Committee to have the opportunity to host local forums and to influence your local or state government on issues that impact your business.

Networking

When you join a Chamber, you can network with other businesses. By networking, you get to know others in your community, develop partnerships, and support other businesses. If your business is ever in need, you’ll have a community of business owners to turn to for help. The Chamber holds multiple monthly networking events so members can meet and exchange ideas, develop business relationships and increase their professional network. Learn more about our Alive After 5 networking events.

Professional Development

Each year the Washington Chamber hosts a variety of professional development workshops and training opportunities to help you learn or improve skills that are essential to running your business….without breaking your budget.

Referrals

The Washington Chamber loves referring people to your business. Whether through phone inquiry, email, online or a visit to the Chamber’s offices, businesses, residents and visitors alike will find information about your company.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Need to engage a new target market? This year Chamber events will attract more than 7,000 attendees and more than 1,400 business people will read each edition of the Chamber newsletter. Chamber members maintain top-of-mind awareness for their products and services by sponsoring one of our highly promoted business or community events. Find out how your business can benefit through our sponsorships.

Job Listings

Looking for dependable employees who are committed to getting the job done? Chamber members can access the Job Listing portal, a program that provides work search assistance and support to people who are looking for employment.

Committees & Task Forces

Looking to position your company as a business leader? How about heightening awareness of your business and enhancing your public profile? Chamber members can get involved with our committees to build connections, raise their professional profile and affect community change. Learn more about our committees.

Access to Information

The Chamber has a wealth of valuable information to answer your business and community questions. Through our many partnerships, we are able to work with you on your business problems and connect you to the right resources.

Member Services

As a member of the Washington Chamber, you will have access to a greater pool of resources. Members may use the Chamber’s board room, with modern technologies and meeting capabilities. We have portable PA’s, projectors, screens, and tablets available for our members.

Literature Displays

All members are encouraged to display their brochures or business cards in the Chamber lobby as another way to capture new customers and attention. Our lobby is visited by more than 7,000 visitors and members each year.

Mailing Labels

Target your marketing with the hottest mailing list in town. We have a local media list, a club & organization list, and a membership list available so you can target your message effectively.

Membership Decal, Plaque, and Partnership Logo

When a business is a chamber member, consumers are 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the business in the future (The Schapiro Group, 2012). Proudly promote your Chamber membership with a handsome window decal. Be sure to download a “Chamber Member Partnership Logo” to display and link on your website.

Community Magazine

This award-winning publication highlights the greatest features in our community. With a circulation of 10,000 printed copies distributed across the state and with every new employee and welcome package, it is a great business-to-consumer marketing opportunity. By advertising in the community magazine, you are reaching new community members who are actively searching for assets in our area. We encourage you to pick up copies for your new and existing employees.

Preferred Business Directory

The Chamber’s Preferred Business Directory is a free listing of Chamber members that are featured on our website and included, at no charge, in the Community Magazine. All Chamber members may be featured in limitless categories to give greater exposure to your products and services.

New Member Receptions

New members are welcomed with an annual orientation that provides an in-depth overview of the services and benefits available to them to help them maximize their investment.

New Resident Welcome Kit

Our welcome kits are distributed through the Chamber to new residents in our community. Your advertising brochures and ad specialty items can reach these newcomers first; before they establish buying patterns.

Relocation Inquiries

We can provide a list of potential new residents who have requested relocation information. Members have the ability to establish name-recognition with these new folks even before they move here.

Ribbon Cuttings

The Chamber enjoys helping members celebrate the grand openings of their businesses by conducting ribbon-cutting ceremonies and helping members promote the good news.

Website

The Chamber’s website has pages of business and community information, giving you 24/7 access to tools designed to help your business succeed. All members are listed in our online business directory with a link to your website and a detailed description of your company / products / services. The website was totally redesigned in 2019 and is more robust than ever.

Workforce Housing

Your Chamber is working with WEDG to find ways to encourage builders / government to provide long-term solutions that will result in available and affordable housing for our workforce.

Workforce Preparation

Through a number of programs and initiatives, the Chamber works to assure that the Washington community has a qualified and abundant workforce now and in the future.

How to Get the Most of Your Investment

Your membership with the Washington Chamber is based on your type of business as well as the number of employees you have. We believe that when employees belong to the Chamber you are strengthening your business as well as creating a stronger connection to the community.

Get Involved

When you get involved with the Chamber, you will become better connected to your community. You will become more aware of community and business issues. You can help solve problems, and members can help you solve your problems. The more you engage, the more you get to know the other community and business leaders that can advocate for your interests too.

Earn Marketing

You can obtain marketing through the Chamber. Take advantage of free positive brand recognition and exposure on the Chamber’s website and larger social networks, and the many cost-effective advertising and sponsorship opportunities offered by our newsletters, digital marketing campaigns, and events to reach more of your market for less.

Take Deductions

As a business, you are able to deduct membership fees as allowable business expenses. This helps counteract the cost of the membership.

Your takeaway

In addition to the direct savings and growth benefits, membership also supports community and non-profit projects that keep the local market strong and growing (and able to buy!), and supports efforts that provide a top-of-the-line workforce/

Joining the Washington Chamber of Commerce is a great decision.

Business Exposure

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 local professionals than is available through most other local organizations. The lists below layout services we offer:

Listed in the Chamber Business Directory

Chamber sends out 1 e-newsletter per week:
Emails have a reach of approximately 3,000 emails

    • Interactive newsletter: includes links, images, video
    • Ability to advertise in this newsletter ($50/ad for full color, url links, and text)
      • Event details must be sent to Chamber at least 2 weeks before your event
      • Event will also be added to the online, free community calendar
      • Provide new member information, interesting information about operating a local business, articles about the local community, a community calendar and details about up-and-coming chamber events, among other things.

Website:
The average number of visitors view 2,500 pages per month on our site.

  • Searchable Business Database online (for direct sales marketing and networking)

Promotional Literature distribution

Event Sponsorship

Chamber Ambassador Visits

Chamber Bucks

Welcome to Washington Packets

Member Referrals

Worth Bragging About

  • The Chamber  is happy to celebrate and promote your success as a business
  • Send us your press releases for accomplishments and we will include in our newsletter, free of charge!

Increase your visibility in the community.

As a new member of the chamber of commerce, you will be listed in the chamber newsletter, e-newsletter, on Facebook and have the opportunity to be highlighted in other chamber publications. You also can grow your business by advertising with the chamber and sponsoring events. The chamber may also promote your grand opening/ ribbon-cutting ceremony and assist with any public relations efforts.

Additional Benefits & Services

Educational Opportunities | Chamber Academy

  • Leadership Washington
  • Learn at Lunch
  • CEO Round-tables
  • Marketing Round-tables
  • Specialized business training workshops (e.g. Google & Microsoft workshops)
  • Ambassadors

Visitors & Tourism

  • Barn Quilts
  • World’s Longest Continually Running Movie Theater
  • Local/Regional/State-wide promotion
  • World’s Tallest Cornstalk

Government Relations

  • Candidates Night
  • Legislative Briefings
  • Legislative Agenda

Value of Chamber Membership

  • Chamber-involved business favor-ability increases by 28%
  • Consumer awareness increases by 55%
  • Boost in local reputation increases by 53%
  • Likelihood of future patronage increases by 49%

Special Events

  • Tour of Homes
  • Educator Appreciation Breakfast
  • Thursday Night Live
  • Craft Fair
  • Oktober Madness
  • Annual Dinner
  • Summer Classic

Services

  • Faxing, copying, recycling printer ink cartridges
  • Community tours for new employees or as a business recruiting tool
  • Meeting space
  • Technology Rental: projector, screen, tablets, portable photo studio