Chamber of Commerce

You don't have to live or even visit Lynchburg for long to hear about the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. But who are the men and women behind the curtain and what do they do? Read here for your guide to all things Chamber-related.

WHO WE ARE

Though the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce has been in existence since 1883, its staff, board and members currently serve a very present and relevant mission: To strengthen its member businesses and stimulate regional prosperity. As the region's largest business association and one of the area's major promoters of economic growth and community unity, the Chamber has the experience and expertise to drive change locally. Honored with a 5-Star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber, our goal is to lead businesses and communities locally while broadening the range of benefits offered to members in Region 2000.

WHY WE EXIST

A large reason for the Chamber's existence is to ensure that Region 2000 continues to remain a great place to live and work by representing and growing the people and businesses that exist here. Equally reflective of the Chamber's track record are our values, which include:

• Members and Customers
• Employees
• Diversity
• Regional Collaborations and Partnership
• Creativity and Problem Solving
• Quality in All We Do

WHAT WE DO

The Chamber exists to serve as an advocate, networking tool and idea hub for businesses locally, among many other things. Each decision we make is designed to have an impact on the Lynchburg area and its businesses. The Chamber offers many benefits, including:

Strength in Numbers.

Our effectiveness and impact is directly related to the size and involvement of the membership. Annual dues afford us the opportunity to take on issues and provide services to help businesses in our community succeed.

Make Things Happen.

Here are just a few things that the Chamber has been on the forefront of in our area:

• Delta Jet Service
• New Amtrak service to Washington D.C.
• Leadership Lynchburg—the nationalaward-winning program that trains and equips emerging leaders in our community.
• The creation of the United Way, Region 2000 (originally The Team 2000 Task Force) and Kaleidoscope (through a partnership with the Junior League), just to name a few.

Advocacy for Laws and Regulations that Support Business.

When potential laws and bills are introduced that impact business, our full-time, registered lobbyist will fight for your local business' best interest.

Access & Reputation.

If it's all about who you know, being a part of the Chamber will connect you to thousands of other members, Chamber contacts and, in many cases, dignitaries and officials that you normally wouldn't have access to. The Chamber also provides thousands of referrals per year to member businesses.

Programs & Services.

Discounts for Chamber members include long-distance phone service, shipping and e-marketing. In addition, members have access to free event listings on our Web site, which receives more than 45,000 unique visits per month.

WHO CAN BE A MEMBER

In short, all businesses in Region 2000 are welcome! Whether you are looking to network, join panel discussions, serve on a committee, or simply want to come to our events, the Chamber meets each business where they are according to their desires and schedule. For more information about the Chamber and becoming a member, stop by our office at 2015 Memorial Avenue in Lynchburg, call us at (434) 845-5966 or visit www.lynchburgchamber.org.

OUR VISION FOR 2010

Among the many goals the Chamber has in 2010, here are just a few of the highlights:

• Provide opportunities for the local business community to communicate with local, state and national political leaders through a variety of events.
• Work closely with the Committee to Advance the TransDominion Express to support the new Northeastern Amtrak train and extend current service to Roanoke and Bristol.
• Support funding requests for local private universities and colleges to increase the annual Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) from 3,000 undergraduate /1,300 graduates to 3,200 undergraduate/1,900 graduate.
• Protect Virginia's Right to work by opposing national legislation to allow unions to form without a secrete ballot and impose binding arbitration (Card Check- Employee Free Choice Act).
• Work with Lynchburg Regional Airport to negotiate increased air service options for our business community.
• Partner with Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) to initiate a young leaders webcast series.
• Leverage our relationship with ChamberSolutions, offering members discounts with companies such as Anthem Value Added Benefits, FedEx and OfficeMax.
• Provide more online opportunities for our members through newly designed website.
• Visit China in October to promote international trade, which has the potential to create jobs, improve innovation, generate revenue and provide more choices for consumers.

2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Launched 6-step economic stimulus plan to help members during the year.
• Partnered with Chamber's Small Business Committee to provide free seminars and presentations to help businesses weather tough economic times.
• Facilitated eight "Resume and Interview" workshops at the Region 2000 Career Center, which helped over 100 for displaced workers.
• Successfully advocated for creation of new Amtrak service from Lynchburg to Washington, DC to Boston.
• Organized a coalition of chambers of commerce to take a strong, unified stand in support of improvements to U.S. 29 in statesponsored corridor study.
• Hosted Lt. Governor Bill Bolling for a business round table on job creation and energy.
• Aggressively lobbied against Card Check legislation by participating in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., joining Virginia Fortune 500 Companies in meetings with Senators Webb and Warner, as well as several House Representatives.
• Held over 25 networking events to help businesses connect and build relationships.
• Worked with U.S. Airways to produce special 20+ page insert in their magazine, marketing the Lynchburg region to the world.
• Unveiled new multimedia display with interactive kiosk at Lynchburg Regional Airport to provide visitors with information about lodging, dining and recreational choices.