No, we serve ALL businesses. Our 600+ members represent over 50,000 employees, including all sizes and types of businesses throughout Elgin and South Elgin and the entire region. Our large businesses help the Elgin Area Chamber (EAC) by serving as our foundational members, allowing us to have the resources to better serve small businesses. You may be surprised to know that most of our members are small businesses! Over 70% of our membership is made up of businesses with a count of 10 employees or less. We’re in business for your business!

If your business needs to market itself and grow, you CANNOT afford NOT to join. This is the perfect time to invest in your future. A base-level membership costs only $585 – that amounts to less than two dollars per day for the entire year. According to the Shapiro study, when consumers believe that a business is a Chamber member, they are 80% more likely to patronize your business. There is also a 73% increase in consumer awareness of your business and a 68% increase in its local reputation.

We understand you’re busy. So, let us help you out! At the Chamber, we can work together and work for your business, so you don’t have to do it alone. Even if you don’t have time to attend Chamber events, your financial support will help make the EAC successful in its efforts to grow the Elgin Area and make our team and coalition successful. We also have great benefits, such as advocacy and member referrals that take no time to participate in, but you have to be a member to receive them. Plus, your business has its own webpage on our website so that is working for you 24/7/365.

And we appreciate that you do! The Chamber is not asking for a contribution. Your financial investment in EAC provides you a service from our organization for our work on your behalf, advocating for your business as well as providing you opportunities to network, gain referrals, be involved, and grow your business. Your investment is also 94% percent tax deductible as a business expense.

We have all kinds of members. We have members who like to be “top of mind” and bring home business cards from each event they attend, plugged in and heavily engaged. We also have members who have little time to give or even attend our events. There is no other organization like ours that takes the lead in representing your business interests and is with you each step of the way.

Do you drive on local roads or have employees that live in or near the Elgin/South Elgin area? If you do, you are part of our community. The Chamber works hard to advocate for improvements in not only the business community but for the improved quality of life in our region, too.

We work hard for those members as well because the Chamber is for businesses of all activity levels and always will be. Your membership impact grows as you flex on marketing, and we hope you see the value in belonging to such a diverse group of people, businesses and network.

That’s the perfect reason to join! We work hard to help you develop new contacts and make the business community aware of your arrival on the scene by raising awareness with members and potentially hosting a ribbon-cutting/public relations event once you are ready. Chamber membership and sponsorship should be part of your budget to start growing brand awareness of your business in the Elgin Area.

A critical part of the Chamber is our advocacy work. In today’s political environment, we work with all elected officials at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. We also coordinate events with elected officials so you can meet them and personally share your thoughts.

We deliver focused programs and services to our investors in the following areas:

• Championing a strong local economy
• Growing partnerships & communication
• Workforce development
• Promoting members through marketing resources & networking connections
• Membership referral connections, visibility opportunities & business development
• Advocacy for business with the government
• Building community leadership and development programs