Meet the 2023 Chamber of the Year Finalists: Category Three

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.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce – Bowling Green, Ky.

Prepared for Investment: The Kentucky Transpark is a successful partnership between the chamber, city and county in Bowling Green. But the success was a double-edged sword. It was running out of room for new development.

• The continued public-private partnership between the chamber, city and county led to $46 million in bonds to buy 528 acres bordering the park and the infrastructure needed to make it ready for investment.
• The park was ready when a Japanese-based technology company wanted to build an electric vehicle battery gigafactory there, resulting in a $2 billion private investment, the second-largest investment in Kentucky history.

Gwinnett Chamber – Duluth, Ga.

Pro-Business Ballot: Over the past two years, the Gwinnett Chamber has created two 501(c)(4) organizations to boost public policy efforts. Both entities took action as a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) hit the ballot.

• Inform Gwinnett is focused on educating chamber members on pro-business policy issues. The Gwinnett Fund better supports pro-business needs in the public sector.
• Both raised money to support the renewal of a SPLOST in 2022, which passed with 64% of the vote and won all voting precincts in Gwinnett County.

Lancaster Chamber – Lancaster, Pa.

Discovering Paths: As employers continue to be on the hunt for talent, the Lancaster Chamber is investing in its next generation. The chamber’s mentorship program, Discovering Paths, empowers high school juniors to explore career options through business connections and experiential learning.

• The 150 mentees and their mentors meet ten times throughout the year. Activities range from mock interviews and resume writing sessions to networking at a mini-business expo and volunteering.
• Inspire Lancaster, a supplemental program to Discovering Paths, launched in 2022 to match employers with schools and students interested in specific work-based learning experiences like apprenticeships, tours and more.

Learn who will be the Category Three Chamber of the Year at the #ACCE23 Awards Show on Tuesday, August 1 in Salt Lake City. The Chamber of the Year program is sponsored by Personify. Can’t make it? Follow @ACCEHQ on any social media platform to see who wins as it happens!