Bedford County, PA — Being a member of the Chamber of Commerce is good business, even an important business strategy, as revealed in the results of two studies by the Shapiro Group over the last decade. In fact, the reported value of participating in your local Chamber has actually increased in recent years, and especially since the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic. The studies, which were commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) reveal that being active in the local Chamber sends positive messages to your customers on multiple fronts: “communicating to consumers that a company uses good business practices, is reputable, cares about its customers, and is involved in its community.”
For example, the Shapiro study reported that “when consumers know that a small business is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, they are 49% more likely to think favorably of that business, and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.”
The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce is proud to provide its members with hundreds of programs, events and resources throughout the year designed to provide value to local businesses and the community, including the Annual Dinner and Awards Program, which recognizes excellence among the business community and beyond each fall.
Networking, marketing/exposure, education and savings opportunities are available; the offerings are often customizable, and as diverse as our outstanding business community. And while here are many events to attend, there are just as many benefits available without taking part in functions.
Our local Chamber is proud to have more than 650 member businesses and organizations, representing more than 20,000 employees in the Bedford County region. Every employee of a member business is also a Chamber member, and eligible for benefits including the Chamber Advantage Card, which offers hundreds of dollars in member-to-member specials and offers at any given time.
The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce has been recognized for excellence, including as the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals Chamber of the Year in 2018.
For more information on joining the Chamber, or to review your membership benefits, contact President-CEO Kellie Goodman Shaffer or VP of Membership & Education Gwen Querry at the Chamber office: 814.623.2233 or learn more online at BedfordCountyChamber.com/Benefits.
