Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
Founded 1956
Type Advocacy group
Focus Business advocacy
Location
Area served
Amherst, Hadley, Shutesbury, Leverett, Pelham, Sunderland, and Belchertown
Method Business networking
Media attention
Programming
Political lobbying
Key people
 Don Courtemanche, Executive Director
Slogan The Amherst Area: A Perfect Place . . . for Everything!
Website Official Website of Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is the local chamber of commerce for portions of Hampshire and Franklin counties within the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. The chamber represents the business needs of over 600 businesses and 4,200 employees in the area.

The Amherst Area Chamber is considered to be the one of the most powerful business organizations in Western Massachusetts.

Board of directors

  • Nancy Buffone (President), Executive and Nominating Committees (2016)
  • Julie Marcus (1st VP), Executive, Finance, and Nominating Committees (2016)
  • Mark Ellsworth (Treasurer), Executive and Finance Committees (2017)
  • Jerry Guidera (Secretary), Executive Committee (2017)
  • Jim Brassord (At Large), Executive and Finance Committees (2017)
  • Larry Archey (Immediate Past President)
  • Aaron Jolly (Taste of Amherst) (2015)
  • April Williams (2016)
  • Heidi Flanders (2016)
  • Kate Lockhart (2016)
  • Niels la Cour (Amherst Future) (2017)
  • Felicity Hardee (Finance Committee) (2015)
  • Robin Brown (Program and Ambassador Committee) (2015)
  • Barry Roberts (2017)
  • G. Christopher Blauvelt (2016)
  • Peter Vickery (Government Affairs) (2016)
  • Sean Cleary (2016)
  • Tiffany Raines (Annual Dinner) (2017)
  • Youssef Fadel (Golf Tournament, Taste of Amherst, Program, Margarita Madness, Nominating Committee) (2016)

Chamber model

The Amherst Area Chamber is supported by members' dues and its own fundraising activities. Membership is open to anyone and dues are based upon a sliding scale based on the number of employees. The Chamber is a partner organization with the Greater Northampton Chamber and Greater Easthampton Chamber in the formation and management of the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council.

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is divided into Councils, with each Council being an advocate for different interests of the members or responsible for the hosting of various chamber events throughout the year.

Amherst Future is a group that assists in developing congruence among local economic development projects and the Town of Amherst’s Master Planning Document.[1] This advocacy group seeks to stimulate the commercial tax base through economic development while protecting its recreational areas and open space.

Member Benefits

There are many benefits that businesses can access once they become members. They are in the areas of marketing, advertising, educational support, ribbon cutting ceremonies, referrals, networking, business advocacy, special discounts and group buying power.[2]

Issues

The Amherst Area Chamber supported the ban on disposable food and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene (commonly called Styrofoam) beginning on January 1, 2014 in the town of Amherst. The chamber hoped that prices for alternative containers would go down for local restaurants affected businesses as paper-based containers become more popular.[3]

Events

The annual Taste of Amherst is one of the most popular events that the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce hosts. It draws over 20,000 people[4] to eat at over 20 local restaurants that set up tents on the Amherst town common. There are also bounce houses and face painting for children and a beer tent for adults. The Taste of Amherst has had a large effort in the past few years to "green up the event". All of the plates and silverware are made of compostable materials. There are three stations where patrons bring their trash to be sorted into recycling, compost, and waste.

Example Members

  • AEIOU Occupational & Urgent Healthcare
  • Alan Hurwitz Associates
  • Amethyst Farm
  • Amherst College
  • Amherst Media
  • Berkshire Gas
  • Elements Hot Tub Spa
  • Emily Dickinson Museum
  • Fine Interior Painting
  • Ford Gillen Architects
  • Hilltown Tree and Garden
  • Jean Lukens, LICSW
  • Law Office of Greta LaMountain Biagi
  • Lincoln Real Estate
  • Marney Electrical Services
  • Modern Memoirs Private Publishing
  • Moira Clingman Design
  • Northeast Solar
  • Off The Wall Games
  • Osteo Naturals
  • Stakeholders Capital
  • The Loose Goose Cafe
  • Thomas A Warger Consulting
  • Traditional Health First
  • Valley Nutritional Counseling
  • Valley Generators
  • Western Massachusetts Electric Company
  • WGBY-TV
  • Wheatberry Bakery & Cafe
  • Whirl Wind Farm Kennel

Example Legislative Members

References

  1. ↑ "Master Plan". Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  2. ↑ "Member Benefits". Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Merzbach, Scott (November 23, 2012). "Amherst bans Styrofoam containers". Amherst Bulletin. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  4. ↑ "Taste of Amherst gets underway Thursday". Retrieved 2012-08-24.

External links

Coordinates: 42°22′32.3″N 72°31′14.1″W / 42.375639°N 72.520583°W / 42.375639; -72.520583

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