Advertising & Marketing

• The annual Travel Guide - As a Chamber member you are automatically listed in the annual travel guide (over 40,000 produced) and have access to discount pricing for advertising in the guide. When you purchase an ad you are guaranteed a spot on the coveted map inside the guide.

• Website listing - Included in your membership is a free listing on the website which was visited over 60,000 times.

• The Shires Distribution Program - As a Chamber member you receive a discounted rate to advertise in this 20+ rack holder program throughout the region.

• Host a Networking Mixer - Your membership includes the ability to work with the Chamber to host a mixer at your venue. Mixers tend to bring out 50-100 small business owners, community leaders and stakeholders. This a great way to showcase your business, gain customers and ambassadors and provide the membership with a good time.

• Community Calendar - As a member of the Chamber, you get to post for free on our community calendar about your event; visited over 20,000 times annually.

Connected

• Weekly E-Blast - You will automatically begin receiving our very popular weekly e-blast which features the news of the week, chamber programming, community events, member shout outs and key areas of focus.

• Chamber Team - Our Chamber team works all year round to make sure our members are at the forefront of discussion, legislation and the future of Vermont. The executive director has keen access to many crucial circles within the state and beyond. As a member, we are out there representing you.

Advocacy & Awareness

• Pop-up roundtable discussions (e.g. small business theft and safety, housing forum, etc.).

• Digital Telecasts (e.g. COVID telecasts, mental health, etc.).

• Mondays Matter legislative e-newsletter - as a member you are automatically subscribe to this quick, to-the-point legislative newsletter.

• Vermont Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) - Our executive director is Vice President of the organization which gathers all chamber directors from the state.

• Women in Leadership Luncheon - The Chamber hosts the Women’s luncheon to celebrate, honor and encourage our regional woman; attendance is around 150 per luncheon.

• Heart of The Shires Luncheon - This luncheon, hosted by the Chamber, celebrates area community leaders, nonprofits and civic servants who have gone above and beyond.

• Legislative Breakfast - Held mid-way through the session, this Chamber-hosted breakfast brings together business and nonprofit leaders, with region Senators, Legislators and stakeholders.

• Legislative Luncheon - This luncheon, hosted by the Chamber, is held in the fall as we prepare for the upcoming session and traditionally has the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as a guest speaker.

• State of the Commerce Survey & Report - As a member of the Chamber you get to participate in the annual State of the Commerce survey, this helps us set our agenda for small businesses and lets your voice be heard.

Program & Event Access and Discounts

• Networking Mixers - time to unwind, connect with fellow members, enjoy a beverage and appetizer and make great connections.

• Coffee and Conversations - ongoing roundtables (with coffee and treats) to discuss and connect on the current challenges and opportunities of the region.

• Lunch and Learns - Digital live webinar to explore new and various topics of small business and community (social media, marketing, strategic planning, accounting, retirement, mental health, etc.).

Membership Rights

• Attend the Annual Membership Meeting every January - The Largest Business Night of the Year, this annual gathering provides a time for the membership to come together, connect and develop the Chamber for a brighter future.

• Vote on the annual organizational budget - At our annual membership meeting you have a right to accept or reject the upcoming operational budget for the Chamber.

• Review the bylaws and policies/procedures - As a member, you have a right to ask to review bylaws, 990s tax returns and our policies and procedures.

• Vote on the Board of Directors - Annually, through our digital platform, you get to vote on who should represent you at the leadership level of the Chamber.

• Run for the Board of Directors - Run for a 3-year term and connect with some of the region’s best leaders around the Chamber table.

• Membership 101 - Attend our annual class to learn more about how you can take advantage of your member benefits.

• Annual Membership Survey - Let us know how we are doing; this annual survey allows our membership to let us know what’s working, what needs improvement and the direction they want us to go.

Travel and Tourism Exposure

• Bennington State Welcome Center - Your chamber manages the 279 highway Welcome Center which sees over 100,000 visitors each year. Our staff are well-trained and friendly. As a member of the Chamber you can put your brochures up in the Welcome Center for free.

• Welcome Center Posters - As a member of the Chamber you get access and discounted cost to put your brand in the form of a poster up in the State Welcome Center for the entire year.

• Welcome Center Art Wall and Display Cases - As a member, you have access to showcase your art up at the State Welcome Center, as well as “takeover” one of their key glass-inclosed display cases to show off your products.

• Travel and Recreation Committee - The Governor has appointed our executive director to serve on the state-wide board and provide regional information and concerns to the state.

• The Shires of Southwestern Vermont DMO - The Chamber sponsors the Shires Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) and all the efforts around the regional brand.

• Regional Marketing Campaigns - Through the Shires DMO we allocate funding to marketing campaigns to promote the region including recently our partnership with Hearst Media.

Professional Development/Workforce

• The Shires Young Professionals - The Chamber sponsors the Shires Young Professionals (SYP) with a mission to recruit, retain and grow young Vermonter workers and families in the region.

• GROW Initiative - The Chamber oversees the ACCD Grow Initiative of the region which provides funding to recruit and retain people to Vermont.

Small Business & Nonprofit Support

• Borrow Equipment: For your next event or community gathering you can borrow our tables, chairs, event material and more.

• Celebrations & Ribbon Cuttings - The Chamber is well known for celebrating small business and nonprofits with plaques, ribbon cuttings, flowers and the ability to gather other members and key community stakeholders to celebrate your occasion.

• Meet The Director - The Chamber offers one-on-one consulting & coaching to our members in our areas of expertise including marketing, social media, event design and more.

Community Support

• Annual Homebrew Festivals - a festival held twice a year to get the community out enjoying beverages, bands and food, while encouraging budding brewers to enter the semi-professional space.

• Garlic Town, USA - The Chamber’s #1 event, we host this event in downtown Bennington every Labor Day Weekend with over 100 vendors and 8,000 people in attendance.

• 250th Committee - The Chamber has a seat at the table as we prepare for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington.

• Manchester Business Association & Better Bennington Corporation - We work collaboratively with both organizations. As they tend to focus on a more specific downtown/town area with a focus on marketing, we can come alongside and assist with programming, education, advocacy and more.

Insurances

• Vace+ Dental - Members get premium group pricing on dental programs for their staff.

• Vace+ Vision - Members get premium group pricing on vision programs for their staff.