In 2015, the Greenville Chamber rebranded with the refined vision to continually improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring and facilitating business success. We also made the decisions to focus our energy and resources on improving our product, as well as to start calling our members Investors.

Why “Investors”?
Most chambers have members, and we are still considered a 501c6 Not-for-Profit membership organization. However, we realize that when we talk to businesses about joining our organization, the conversation always turns – as it should – to their return on investment. No, we are not distributing dividend checks, but we are working for the success of our Investors and our community. The word transition from member to Investor is slow and a hard change (yep, we have a money jar here for every time our Staff says member), but it just makes sense. Yes, you are still a part of something and you belong, but more importantly you are making an investment in your business, your employees and yourself, as well as in the future of our economy and our community.

Our #1 Resource and Our #1 Product is Collaboration
We are fortunate to have businesses of all sizes help develop our product, because it takes all of them to make it work. It takes all businesses providing the resources and engagement they can afford to allow us as an organization the ability to serve, lead and help our community thrive, as well as provide programs and products that help our Investors grow. It takes all they can offer – leadership, large investments, medium investments, small investments, time, experience, exposure, differences, the ability to grow, the willingness to learn, the openness to change – to create the collaboration that makes Greenville a great place to be and our Chamber the leading force for our business community.

The Big Picture
For some businesses it can be difficult to see past a tangible product, to know that the Chamber is working and collaborating locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to make Greenville known as a business friendly, progressive place that doesn’t settle for the status-quo. For instance:

Our Business Advocacy Team is:

• …at the forefront in Columbia, pushing for legislation that creates an environment that allows our businesses and communities to flourish.
• …joining forces with 12 other chambers in the region to build the strength necessary for getting important messages to our legislators heard.
• …connecting our community with legislators, including visits from nine 2016 presidential candidates so far, and counting.

Our Economic Competitiveness Team is:

• … collaborating with employers and education providers to retain, attract, and train skilled talent for all areas of the workforce.
• …benchmarking with communities we aspire to in order to define opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.
• …providing data and assistance to businesses in and considering the area

Our Diversity and Inclusion Team is:

• …connecting with diverse populations to gain momentum and understanding that we can only succeed as a community if there is real betterment for us all.
• …providing resources and opportunities for historically underserved populations to connect, learn and grow.

Our Leadership Development Team is:

• …teaching individuals about Greenville, inside and out, in order to provide attention to our issues and an appreciation for our successes so that we may grow and lead our community with both knowledge and wisdom.
• …building a network of young professionals that are engaged in Greenville and with one another, planting the roots for our future.

The Tangibles
The Chamber’s small business leadership, made up of staff and volunteers, is dedicated to providing these critical drivers of our economy with the resources and opportunities necessary for increased success. Specific ways small businesses can utilize these opportunities include:

• Connect & Learn: Every event and committee meeting is an opportunity to connect and learn, and the Chamber produces over 200 of these a year of all types and sizes. The key is to know your and your employees’ capacity for attending and to focus on the programs, groups and topics that are important to your business. A few of note:
  • Small Business Owners’ Forums: Many small business owners are facing the same challenges. This environment offers the opportunity to ask questions, share, brainstorm, and develop solutions with peers. These are bimonthly events with the next one on Wednesday, March 16^th at the Chamber.
  • Mentor Program: Designed for business professionals to connect with and be mentored by some of Greenville’s most experienced, respected and successful leaders. The Chamber acts as matchmaker, encouraging participation and growth, and the groups take the next nine months from there. The next class starts September 2016, so look out for application information this summer.
  • Friday Forums: This series, held on the fourth Friday of each month, is designed to help business professionals connect, learn, and grow. From local business and community leaders to legislators and other noteworthy speakers, these forums are curated to provide efficient and effective insights to keep you informed and/or help you reach your professional goals.
• Navigate: The Chamber serves as a go-to for small businesses looking to define and navigate the many resources available to them from start-up to business growth to exit strategy.
• Save: Small businesses don’t always get the purchasing benefits afforded to larger businesses, thus pay premiums for being in business, which seems unfair. The Chamber has negotiated group buying power solutions to help with the cost of doing business. These Value-Add Partner programs can provide savings, plus added options, efficiency and productivity:
  • Accident Fund Workers' Compensation Insurance
  • BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Health Insurance
  • Greenville Office Supply
  • Group Transportation Services Shipping Solutions
  • UPS Shipping
  • Windstream Communications

The Reality
The reality is that running a small business is hard. It takes more time and energy and dedication than most people ever knew they had to give. So when do small business owners have time to attend events to connect and learn? Maybe at the beginning when they need help or when they’re still thinking they can do it all, maybe a couple years in when they have stories to share and help to offer, maybe when they’re truly ready with advice and confidence to mentor others, but maybe not at all. And that’s when we get the unfortunate “no value” and “no time” notes with businesses dropping their Investments.

It’s all well and good for businesses to join the Chamber for the tangibles or because they think it’s the right thing to do. It is. However, our community will benefit more from our concentration on the big picture and knowing that no matter what we can offer at this point in our lives or careers or business cycles, our participation in the collaboration is what’s needed to maintain and build upon the great momentum Greenville has.