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Abstract
This paper addresses an area with very little extant literature, the role of the modem day chambers of commerce in local business environments. What do chambers do? How do they help small businesses? What role do they play in local community and economic development? The combined experience of the authors with a local metropolitan chamber of commerce illustrates the various roles played by a chamber. Five roles fit into the following categories: business promotion; owner skill development; government relations; community development; and, economic development. Although, this exploratory research may have limited generalizability, ultimately it is hoped hope to encourage future research that may lead to the development of a theory supporting the connection between a chamber of commerce and local businesses.
Introduction
As long as people have conducted trade, they have banded together to provide common protection against enemies, develop rules to govern the conduct of trade, and to promote their businesses (Morro Bay, n.d.). These collective efforts became more formal as guilds developed in medieval cities and town life (Guilds in the Middle Ages, n.d.). Over time, guilds evolved into modem day trade associations and chambers of commerce.
The concept of a chamber of commerce first appeared in Europe at the end of the 17th century. The earliest locally-based chamber in North America was established in Charleston, South Carolina in 1772 (Morro Bay, n.d.). Today there are 2,800 state and local chamber chapters and 3,000,000 business members in the U.S. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, n.d.).
Purpose
This paper illustrates the role of the modem day chamber of commerce in its local business environment. What do chambers do? How do they help small businesses? What role do they play in local community and economic development?
Literature Review
Chambers of commerce are an important force in any community, large or small, yet little academic research has been done on them. Studies include one by Dawley, Stephens, and Stephens (2005) who studied the multi-dimension ability of organization commitment of volunteer chambers of commerce board members. Modeling was used to examine the affects of organizational commitment on several critical roles the board member is to perform. Study results showed that normative, affective, and continued commitment based on few alternatives had a positive effect on the...