The Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce is Independent

The Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) is not affiliated with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC). This distinction will become more important now.

GLVCC has approached NACC about merging over the years. NACC has always chosen to remain independent and the two chambers existed with mutual respect. Several of our members belong to both chambers. Our chamber has repeatedly offered to work together in legislative matters and other issues affecting our region. We believe that we can work for the common good without giving up our independence. Also we believe that we are a different kind of Chamber, smaller, community based and more inter-connected. NACC believes there is a place for both chambers in the Lehigh Valley. As a result of our independence, we maintain a wonderful working relationship with the Slate Belt and Whitehall Area Chambers of Commerce, which are also independent.

Lately pressure from GLVCC on our chamber has intensified. They are opening an office downtown in Nazareth. They have formed a council and been in contact with various members of the community and local government. However, they have not communicated with our chamber about their intentions, so it appears the mutual respect that we formerly enjoyed is in question.   

The board of the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to communicate to our members and to our community that we are not affiliated with GLVCC and have no intention to do so. The feedback we continue to receive from our members who experienced the GLVCC transition in the past with other formerly independent chambers supports our position. These individuals are among the most passionate about NACC remaining independent. If you would like more details on those experiences, please contact the NACC office. Here is a quote from Donna Rossini of Chefworks, a small business NACC member who has firsthand experience with a GLVCC takeover: “I will never become a member of an organization as large as GLVCC again. The independent chambers offer so much more to their members. I strongly urge anyone who has a vote, to vote NO TO MERGING WITH GLVCC.”

Independence allows NACC to best serve our members. We do not charge members for events, promotions or ribbon cuttings because it is our mission to support our member’s success. Our Chamber President Tina Smith knows most members personally and is always there if something is needed, as we continuously support an open door policy. Our chamber board is a committed group comprised of community members from various backgrounds including representatives from Nazareth and Bath boroughs and businesses from one employee/owner to a Fortune 500 company. Members do not get lost in the mix at NACC. If a member chooses to attend our events, they will very quickly establish contacts with other members. There are NACC ambassadors at each event to help new members network. 

NACC is the first chamber in the valley to develop a variety of networking avenues for our members. Our chamber provides many community events and services, such as initiating Nazareth Council of Government (Cog), cooperation with the Nazareth Economic Development Commission, Martin on Main, the Kazoo Parade, the Tree Lighting, Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, offer scholarships to local schools, support economic development and much more. NACC has formed a tri-chamber government affairs committee and we maintain excellent working relationships with each government in our area from our local towns to our U.S. Congress members. Without our independence we would become a footnote to the larger population centers in the region.

We believe in our community and our members and want to help them succeed!  Our chamber is passionate about this. Keep the passion alive! Continue to support your chamber and your fellow members! Please feel free to contact our chamber office at (610) 759-9188 should you have any questions or concerns regarding this information. Thank you.