MIDDLEBURY — The Addison County Chamber of Commerce welcomed 18 new members in less than three months. The chamber has been a flurry of activity with a surge of new members at the end of 2018 (see full list below). Chamber President Rob Carter attributed this surge in part to the health insurance plans it offers to its members through VACEplus.
About a third of recent new members are taking advantage of the benefit — a return to an offering that the Addison County Chamber and its counterparts throughout the state used to offer regularly before the Affordable Care Act was instituted in 2010.
Other benefits available to chamber members include:
•  Employee Education: hosting monthly seminars on a variety of business topics.
• Community Events: drawing customers to the area through festivals, specialty events and sponsorships.
•  Tourism: ACCOC’s Visitor’s Center provides information directing tourists and locals to area businesses, non-profits, historical sites, and the vast natural resources of our county.
•  Business Advocacy: providing legislative updates, sponsoring legislative breakfasts, and hosting legislative candidate forums.
•  Marketing: with over 50,000 website visitors annually, ACCOC provides members with a strong presence in search, promotes members through twice-monthly newsletters, and offers other discounted advertising opportunities.
•  Networking: helping organizations connect through monthly mixers, seminars and referrals.
•  Insurance: providing access to excellent plans for health, dental and vision insurance.
•  Community: member’s dues go to work supporting the community through the Chamber’s participation in workforce development, support of local non-profits, and partnerships with other area organizations on local projects to strengthen the economic health of the county.
Recent organizations joining the chamber include: A. Ginsburg Architects, Acorn Painting, Blue Leaf Business Services, Connor Mill-Built Homes, Cornwall Orchards B&B, Friend Construction, Holy Cow, Lanpher Builds and Books, MainJa Knits, Maple Run Marketing, Murray & Masterson Environmental Services, Soaring Through Light, Texture Salon, Town of Ferrisburgh, Tractor Supply Company, Travel Associates, Vermont Brew Arena Football and Vermont Compliance Monitoring.
“We are grateful for all of the organizations that have joined us recently, and as has been our focus over the past year, we are working hard to provide support to all of our members to help with their success in the coming years,” Carter said in response to the recent surge in membership. “We also anticipate continued growth in chamber membership as businesses and non-profits look for our assistance to rise above the marketing noise, and to find and keep good employees, to assure their own growth and success.”
To learn more about the Addison County Chamber call 802-338-7951 or visit addisoncounty.com/membership.