Serving St. Clair County and the Michigan Thumb Region
Join the largest Chamber of Commerce in St Clair County and the Thumb Area!
We are the only chamber in the area that provides political advocacy, business education and networking opportunities. Over 640 business members to date – always growing our referral base! We have over 85% retention rate for membership. Our variety of chamber members includes:
By Acuitas May 15, 2020 Written by: Sarah Hubbard My partner Kevin Korpi and I are chamber of commerce junkies. I worked for the Detroit Regional Chamber for 17 years. Kevin worked for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and then the Michigan Chamber of Commerce for a total of 10 years. Our firm Acuitas, is a member of numerous chambers around Michigan. The Detroit Regional Chamber and the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance are some of our clients. The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce was a client once before too. We recommend all of our clients join the chamber, wherever they are. We know what makes a chamber of commerce tick and how members derive value for their investments. And we’re here to tell you now, don’t cancel that chamber membership due to the COVID-19 crisis. If anything, double down if your finances permit. What Does A Chamber of Commerce Do? No other organization represents the business community like a chamber of commerce. No other brand is recognized across the globe as an organization fighting for the rights of employers. And no other group balances the needs of the business community with the needs of the general community like a local chamber of commerce. How Can Joining A Chamber Help Me? Right now, your chamber is trying to figure out how to navigate complicated government processes and protect your rights so you can stay focused on keeping your business afloat. Chambers are talking to governors, state legislators, members of Congress, county executives, commissioners, council persons and any other person with a .gov email address, in order to convince them how important it is that the economy is not the antithesis of public health. Both can coexist safely and prosperously together. Chambers are your businesses life raft in the troubled waters of COVID-19. They were the life raft for you during the great recession and they will be again the next time a crisis rolls around. You might be getting some value out of your membership via discounts on office supplies and other tangible goods, but you can’t put a price on the value you’re receiving from your chamber’s advocacy efforts aimed at the government – federal, state and local. Over many years, your chamber’s leaders have built relationships between their organizations and a myriad of public officials. Always trying to find the right opportunity and opening to showcase a public official’s comments while subtly (or sometimes not so subtly) educating them to the realities of providing jobs. We hope you’ll take advantage of all the programming chambers across the country are providing (mostly free of charge) to keep you engaged with government and business leaders. They’re doing it for YOU in hopes it will help YOU survive. |
Testimonials 2024
I joined the chamber with my new business and received the link from the chamber website site to my website and social media. This link moved my website to the top in an organic search. There are others with the same last name, who routinely populate first in an organic search. I am grateful for this boost to my internet presence. Andrew L. Kercher Lectures and Tours We received a call from the Magna Plant before they started building their new location in St Clair. Magna wanted to order vending services. I asked them how they found us, they replied, “we looked on the Blue Water Area Chamber website.” Thank you for being there for us! Jon Holden, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, All Star Services I am in sales; I know the Chamber is beneficial for my business. When I attend events and networking opportunities, I always meet new potential clients. Being a member is an investment in my business. Grant Moore, Blue Water Young Professionals Since I joined the chamber, I have had many new walk-in customers. I am filling my days with appointments. My listing on the chamber website is helping get the word out. All I did was sign up for membership in the chamber and my business is growing! Rufus Brown, Owner Swerve Barber & Beauty " Of all the chambers we have been in and out of, I stay with Blue Water Area Chamber. Thelma welcomed us into the chamber. The Blue Water Area Chamber does more than any other chamber around. Keep up the good work." Phil Grosso, Owner Keller Williams Platinum Our chamber membership has been invaluable, we have utilized it in many ways. We have increased business from all the networking events, we have utilized the sponsorship opportunities to promote our company & we have used many of their resources like the Lunch n Learns to help develop our staff. It has been a great investment for our company. Aaron Hulett Loan Officer and Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce Past Chairman of the Board NMLS#166976 Michigan Mutual Insurance Please allow me to brag about our three ladies in Chamber Leadership. Whenever I call the office they help with any requests for assistance immediately. If they are temporarily swamped they help me within a few hours. If all three are off-site for an event they respond the first thing the following day. Now, let me tell you an experience I had this week with another Chamber outside of MI that my team is trying to work with on a new project. The demographic for this outstate Chamber is nearly identical to ours. I called the Director 7 times in 5 days and did not get a return call. I did find out the Director was not on vacation or particularly time-challenged. Very unprofessional. So BWACC members, be very thankful for our Chamber staff... dedicated pros. Frank J. Jenio to Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce “I was trying to get to you at the event, but you were doing what you do best – keeping the love flow going! I always have a wonderful and blessed and bless time attending the Chambers events! So much powerful and impacting networking! Met some folks that I didn’t know and gosh reunited with those I did. So, YES, YES – I had a wonderful time. Food was good also. I have to give you all your props – well done! Your Friend From the Heart," Anita Ashford, retired DTE, & Port Huron City Council When I started attending chamber networking groups, in less than 6 months my referral business has grown tremendously! I recommend the chamber networking groups to help you grow your business. JoLynn Manns Stewart, Beauvais & Whipple CPA Port Huron We always support our Blue Water Area Chamber brothers and sisters by frequenting their businesses or employing them for our businesses. The strength of our region depends on cooperation, collaboration, innovation. Our future is so bright we have to wear shades! Steve Fernandez & Michele Jones, Country Style Marketplace and 3:10 to Huron LLC It was a fabulous time at the chamber Business After 5 networking event. We enjoyed the food and had a lot of good networking opportunities. I picked up a couple great contacts (business cards) and handed out a few of my own! I had a really great night! Can’t wait for the next event. Trina Kern-Avedisian Citizens for a Vibrant Community The Blue Water Area Chamber believes it is important every business owner is given the opportunities and resources to succeed but every business is not necessarily given access to the resources to be successful. Therefore, the Chamber is in the process of exploring programming that will support the needs of minority-owned and women owned businesses. We currently have specific programming that support our non-profit members and we would do similar programing that will support our minority-owned and women-owned members. Blue Water Area Chamber |
Upcoming Events |
|
