Written by Myhriah Young
West Jordan Chamber President

As I’ve been meeting with people from our community, I’ve noticed a few questions come up over and over again.

Honestly, I appreciate the questions because if people don’t understand the purpose of a Chamber, then we probably haven’t done a very good job explaining it.

So let’s start with some of the most common ones.

What is a Chamber of Commerce?

At its heart, a Chamber of Commerce is a group of businesses, organizations, and community leaders working together to create a stronger local economy and community.

While Chambers have evolved over the years, their original purpose remains surprisingly relevant today.

The first Chamber of Commerce was established in 1599 when merchants came together because they needed trusted information, reliable business relationships, a collective voice, and help solving problems that were too big for any one business to tackle alone.

More than 425 years later, businesses still need many of those same things.

Visibility.
Trust.
Relationships.
Resources.
Community.

The tools have changed, but the need hasn’t.

What can a Chamber do for my business?

That depends on your goals, but some of the most common ways Chambers help businesses include:

Visibility

Many businesses do great work but struggle to get noticed. Chambers help businesses gain exposure through networking opportunities, events, business spotlights, community involvement, social media, partnerships, and referrals.

Relationships

Business is still built on trust. Chambers create opportunities to meet potential customers, referral partners, community leaders, and other business owners.

Connections

Need a contractor? An attorney? A marketing expert? A nonprofit partner? A speaker? A sponsor?
One of the greatest strengths of a Chamber is helping connect people with the right resources.

Advocacy

Chambers often serve as a bridge between businesses, community leaders, and government officials, helping ensure the voice of the business community is heard.

Growth Opportunities

From educational programs and leadership development to collaborations and community partnerships, Chambers help create opportunities that businesses may not find on their own.

At the West Jordan Chamber, we’re also exploring new ways to support businesses through initiatives like Round Tables, Business Highlights, Coffee Conversations with the Prez, Lunch Bombs, and community resource projects.

Isn’t a Chamber just a “Good Old Boys” club?

I’ll be honest—this is probably one of the most common perceptions Chambers face today. And these are my thoughts on it…Please feel free to scroll on if you don’t like my ideas:

While this may have been someone’s experience somewhere, it’s not what I believe a Chamber should be. A healthy Chamber should be one of the most welcoming organizations in a community.

It should bring together businesses of all sizes, industries, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and should create opportunities for people who are new to networking, as well as those who have been doing it for years.

Most importantly, it should be built on relationships, not exclusivity.

In fact, one of the reasons we’ve started Chamber Round Tables is because we want to hear from people who may not traditionally attend Chamber events. We want to listen, learn, and understand how we can better serve our community.

The Chamber should not be about who you know, it should be about helping you get to know the people who can help you succeed.

The Bottom Line

The Chamber isn’t here to sell memberships.

We’re here to help create conversations, connections, and collaborations that help businesses and communities thrive.

Because when people know the businesses, organizations, and leaders around them, trust grows.

And when trust grows, opportunities follow.

That’s why one of the philosophies guiding much of our work is:

Learn Local → Know Local → Trust Local → Support Local

I am a full believer that it takes a village to support a business, so let’s build a village, together!