Businesses Have the Advantage
The Tucson Metro Chamber is made up of 1,500 companies and associations, with approximately 70 percent of those members being small businesses. The Chamber champions for its members to develop a sound economic environment where businesses can be successful and jobs created. The Chamber achieves these goals by representing local businesses at the local, state and federal levels of government, supporting business-friendly initiatives and promoting the metro area.
And for those looking to know more about the community where they live, work and play, the Chamber hosts numerous events throughout the year. These events help members make new contacts, gain exposure for their products and services, connect with local community leaders as well as forge long-lasting professional relationships.
The Chamber also is a strong proponent of workforce development and talent attraction and retention. Helping individuals become workforce ready, the Chamber is leading workforce development efforts connecting students with internship opportunities, identifying employer needs and fostering vital collaboration between educators and private sector businesses and partners. Taking workforce development a step further, the Chamber also helps business leaders stay ahead of trends and skills needed while also building future leaders. One way they do this is by leading the Emerging Leaders Council and working with the Greater Tucson Leadership program.
Investing in Chamber membership enables members to have a strong support system and achieve together what cannot be done alone, such as advocacy. The Chamber supports public policy measures that promote economic expansion: promoting pro-business legislation, funding for education and career and technical courses and working throughout the entire region on long-term business sustainability issues like infrastructure improvements.
The Chamber also ensures that its members’ interests are represented in elections by evaluating public office candidates, promoting elected officials that support local business and ensuring all goals are met through the political action committee.
Likewise, the Chamber represents members at city council and county board meetings, schedules business leaders to speak at these meetings and hosts public policy forums all in an effort to grow public/private partnerships.
With the majority of members being small businesses, the Chamber boasts several resources for these companies to succeed, including an online help desk, monthly workshops, member roundtables and a diverse number of events hosting 15-1,000 business-minded individuals. Each year the Chamber also shines the spotlight on Southern Arizona’s local small businesses, honoring them for excellence and achievements at the Copper Cactus Awards ceremony.
On top of that, the Chamber is the place to turn for tools that help small businesses and startups meet their goals.
The Chamber will always be the champion for businesses, as growing business builds the community.
By Sarah Lancaster