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MEMBER BENEFITS
On behalf of the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce we would like to invite you to become a member. Our mission is to advance commercial, industrial, and professional domestic and global interests in Amherst County and its trade area; to increase your presence; to be of service to you in any way we can for "your business is our business." The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce provides the following services for the benefit of your business:
ACCC on the Web: Our members are listed here on the ACCC web site. Members appear in an alphabetized directory. A link connecting our site to yours is available along with the opportunity to post your news. Changes in your information can be e-mailed to us from your listing.
Amherst County Chamber of Commerce Brochures: Available to businesses to use and to display and for Information Requests. Brochures on Amherst County and destinations in Virginia also are available.
Customer Referrals: We answer all inquiries about businesses, products, and services of our members.
Information Requests: We respond to over 2,000 requests per year about ACCC, business-related, relocation, and tourism questions and send requested information out in professional-looking packets.
Free Consultations: Amherst County Chamber of Commerce: members qualify for a consultation at the Small Business Development Center, in Lynchburg, to obtain business advice for the new or existing small business interested in growing in Central Virginia and the Region 2000 area. Business-related workshops also are occasionally held, sponsored by ACCC.
Amherst County Guidebook: This annual magazine has a distribution list of over 6,600 in Central Virginia. It is published in conjunction with the ACCC as a vehicle to advertise Amherst County. Members receive discounted advertising rates and a listing. The guidebook is published every September.
Membership Plaque: Members receive an ACCC membership plaque for display in order to inform customers of your Chamber membership and active support of fair business practices.
"Chamber Business": Our monthly e-newsletter informs members of current events & news, new members, and more. Business card advertising of your business is available at $10 per issue or $50 for the year (12 issues). Your fliers may be included in one mailing of the e-newsletter for $50. Call the Chamber office.
Chamber Page in the Amherst New Era-Progress: On the 4th Thursday of each month, ACCC has a half-page in the weekly paper on upcoming events, special news, and highlighting 8 Chamber members chosen by random computer selection. The other half displays sponsors using members' business card ads arranged through the paper...434-946-7196.
County Business Resources: A record of business licenses in Amherst County is kept at our office and is available to members as is other vital information about the county, such as economic and demographic statistics
The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce provides a voice for businesses on local issues through several more opportunities for networking and other social activities. These activities include:
Third Thursdays Business After Hours are held almost every month throughout the year to help businesses network and exchange ideas. A contest has been developed to award a prize to the best judged business hosting a BAH using a special theme through food, decorations, etc.. The contest will run between June 2007 and June 2008.
Third Thursdays Business @ Lunch: The ACCC coordinates forum-style luncheons throughout the year on topics relevant to business concerns
Annual ACCC Car Show & Cruise-In: Held in early October in Madison Heights
ACCC Grand Opening Events: ACCC helps sponsor current or new members' grand openings or re-openings. ACCC handles promotion, ribbon-cutting, dignitaries and the business takes care of food, prizes.
ACCC Monthly Chamber Page in Local Paper: ACCC features 8 members and gives upcoming events in a monthly half-page Chamber ad in the Amherst New Era-Progress. Members are chosen by random computer selection. Supported by business card sized ads of Chamber members.
Lobbying: The ACCC lobbies on behalf of the membership by supporting actions to promote the pro-business views of the Chamber on legislative and regulatory issues coming before the members of the General Assembly, Congress, and local governments as well as issues which need to be brought to the attention of elected officials.
Annual Business Appreciation Awards: The Annual Dinner is a gala event held in May during Business Appreciation Week. Members of the community vote for their favorite businesses and the nominees and winners are recognized at this dinner.
Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Business After Hours The evening's agenda celebrates the holidays with food and drink in a festive atmosphere and includes a brief meeting to vote in new board members and approve the proposed operating budget for the upcoming year.
For additional questions regarding membership, please contact the Chamber office at 434-946-0990 or email information@amherstvachamber.com. We look forward to having you as a Chamber member!