What Is A Chamber of Commerce?

     Basically, it is the business community at work as the central agency for community development for business, industry, the professions, and all civic interests- doing jobs that no individual can do alone - rendering many services that benefit all citizens.

The Chamber of Commerce, as a wholly voluntary institution in the United States, is eight years older than the Declaration of Independence. The New York State Chamber, first in America, was organized in 1768, and five years later the first local Chamber was formed in Charleston, South Carolina. Today, there are more than 4,000 Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Since those early days, Chambers of Commerce have steadily developed to a high point of efficiency and have proved to be vitally important in business and civic development throughout the nation.