2025 Chamber of the Year: Meet the Finalists

Since 2007, ACCE has annually recognized chambers of commerce for their work leading businesses and communities with the Chamber of the Year award. In today’s ever-evolving landscape, a chamber’s ability to adapt and thrive, to be visionary and forward-thinking is paramount to achieving success and spurring economic growth. Here’s a look at a few programs that helped earn these chambers a spot as a Chamber of the Year finalist. Watch the accompanying videos to learn more about the chamber's work and other initiatives.

See who wins Chamber of the Year in each of the four categories at the #ACCE25 Awards Show, presented by Comcast Business, on Wednesday, July 23 in Philadelphia. The Chamber of the Year program is sponsored by GrowthZone. Can’t make it? Follow @ACCEHQ on any social media platform to see who wins as it happens! 

Category One

Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce | Chino, California

Upskill Chino Valley and CVCC Future Ready are two programs from the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce helping to close the workforce gap, connect local students and job seekers and build career pathways. The Entrepreneurship and Workforce Innovation Center continues the work by building a stronger pipeline for startups and small business growth. Since its launch, Upskill Chino Valley has placed more than 500 people in jobs, provided more than 65 entrepreneur workshops each year and more than 500 businesses received hiring, training or funding support.  

Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce | Paducah, Kentucky

The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is highly focused on the reindustrialization of its Department of Energy site and with a $2 million dollar grant award, leads the reindustrialization study.  

The reindustrialization effort is currently in the clean-up phase, slated to continue until 2060. The study identifies new opportunities that can happen now to help usher in a new energy renaissance for the area. The chamber proves its ability to collaborate with DOEs and proactively lead a transformative community project. 

Rowan County Chamber of Commerce | Salisbury, North Carolina

The Rowan County Chamber focuses on business advocacy, workforce development, leadership and entrepreneurial development strategies. The chamber expanded on its leadership programs with the creation of a new Leadership Center which includes a youth leadership program, mini leadership programs for new executives in town and young professional workshops. Through its business advocacy efforts, the chamber worked with the City of Salisbury on a small business grant program to provide $30,000 to eligible small businesses. The six small businesses that received the funds are all thriving today.

Category Two

Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce | Conroe, Texas

The Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber’s “Chamber Day” initiative is a grassroots business outreach program launched to elevate member engagement and collect real-time insights from the business community. Through coordinated, volunteer-led canvassing efforts, teams visit local businesses in a single day to survey owners, gather economic data and understand key pain points affecting growth. This program delivers on future-oriented, customized service by using direct feedback to shape the chamber’s programs and advocacy. It also supports efforts to elevate and amplify its brand by positioning the organization as a proactive, connected and responsive community leader.

Greater Jackson Chamber | Jackson, Tennessee

Business retention and expansion is the top priority for the Greater Jackson Chamber. Through consistent engagement, the chamber strengthens its role as a trusted ally and connector for industry leaders. Therefore, to position Jackson as a thriving destination for professionals, especially once the community earned 20,000 new jobs with the arrival of BlueOval City (Ford and SK) and other major employers, the chamber launched the “Move to Jackson” campaign as a strategic talent attraction initiative. It promotes these new career opportunities, quality of life and a welcoming community culture.

Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce | Holland, Michigan

The Michigan West Coast Chamber implemented a “Statewide Community Impact Day” to connect businesses, nonprofits and communities through an afternoon of service and celebration. The event demonstrated the chamber’s ability to galvanize the region to make a strong impact across Michigan. Not only did it showcase a collective impact, but also provided non-dues revenue, created meaningful connections, boosted visibility and fueled civic pride.

Category Three

Greater Fort Wayne Inc. | Fort Wayne, Indiana

Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. delivered for its community when recruitment efforts helped Google choose Fort Wayne to build its fastest data center in the world. GFW Inc. led complex negotiations as the project developer, securing 900 acres across 53 parcels in just 90 days. The chamber’s streamlined approval process and partner coordination helped secure the project, which included an initial $2 billion investment from Google, along with 200 permanent on-site jobs and 1,000 skilled trades construction jobs over 10 years.

Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership | Ocala, Florida

Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership’s (OCEP) spearheaded a sales tax referendum campaign and successfully achieved a 20-year renewal of the Penny Sales Tax for transportation and first responders. It also added a new half penny tax for 10 years, dedicated to school facilities, despite heavy opposition from elected officials and political experts. By uniting the community, the organization secured approximately $1.7 billion in funding over the next two decades.

Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce | Sarasota, Florida

Rising housing costs in the Greater Sarasota have made workforce retention and recruitment difficult for businesses. The chamber convened community stakeholders and advocated for the creation of an attainable housing density program, which incentivizes the private sector to develop affordable housing for a mix of incomes throughout the city. The chamber also launched “CareerEdge” to train and upskill the existing unemployed or underemployed workforce to meet the needs of local businesses. This program closes skills gaps, raises livable wages and strengthens employers’ development and retention of incumbent workers. 

Category Four

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce | Memphis, Tennessee

Leveraging Memphis’ status as a significant minority majority city, the chamber’s strategic plan aims to attract diverse, high-growth industries, particularly in sectors like automotive and medical device manufacturing that demand skilled STEM talent. “The Digital Delta” is part of the bold vision transforming Memphis into a global tech leader. Its strategic plan targets 700+ advanced industries, 20,000 annual STEM certifications and 50,000 quality jobs – half held by minorities. The Digital Delta showcases their agility in tackling STEM credentials and infrastructure shortages, creating abundance, while demonstrating Memphis’ global impact. 

Greater Topeka Partnership | Topeka, Kansas

The Greater Topeka Partnership launched the Momentum 2027 strategy to tackle Topeka’s most pressing challenge: building a competitive, inclusive and opportunity-rich environment for all residents. “Choose Topeka 2.0” is a holistic talent attraction strategy that features three incentive tracks: a worker match program, a boomerang incentive for returning residents and support for veterans transitioning out of the military. Beyond incentives, it promotes Topeka as a vibrant place to live and work. 

Grand Rapids Chamber | Grand Rapids, Michigan

Utilizing the Entrepreneurial Operating System, Grand Rapids Chamber set goals to create greater community impact by investing resources strategically to address regional issues and become more influential in the local, regional and state level. These goals have driven the organization to support transformational projects, provide more housing and create a hub for West Michigan business through a collaborative office. The chamber’s collaborative coworking space has made the strategy of becoming the epicenter of business activity for West Michigan a reality and has driven a dramatic increase in membership and member value.