Serving our members for 85 years.
Our community is ever-growing and the world always-changing — our Chamber adapts to help you thrive.
Joining the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce means investing in the success of your company, our local business community, and the Bedford area as a whole. Membership is a pathway to collaboration, which is an impetus of growth. By engaging in the Chamber, we thrive together — resolving challenges, building relationships, expanding knowledge, creating more opportunities, and fostering a promising future for everyone.
In addition to bringing local businesses together, we organize programs and services that address the specific needs of our members and our community, all in the interest of prosperity and business growth. While some Chambers focus on one initiative, such as tourism or economic development, the Bedford Area Chamber provides opportunities in 5 core areas: Exposure, Connections, Advocacy, Community, and Better Business.
EXPOSURE
Our Chamber's largest benefit category is exposure. We offer countless opportunities to promote and connect your business to the community and your peers. Just by joining our Chamber, your business is added to our directory, increasing your web traffic, SEO, and directing people actively looking for Bedford area services to your business. We also offer unique marketing opportunities such as our weekly interview opportunities on our podcast and radio segment. Members are also able to submit items for our weekly e-newsletter and website. We also offer member-exclusive advertising opportunities for an additional cost, such as mailing labels addressed to all members, e-blasts, and advertising on our website, podcast, and the Bedford Area Community Guide. New members receive free advertising benefits, too. Attending events is also an excellent way to promote what you do!
CONNECTIONS
One of the key benefits of Chamber membership is networking. Through our Chamber, you are able to directly connect with commercial, community, and civic leaders through events and promotional opportunities. Referrals also increase through Chamber membership, due to our Chamber being a trusted source for local business information and by getting to know your fellow members. After all, people do business with people that they know and like. We also offer specific opportunities meant to facilitate connection-making, such as Speed Networking, our Ambassador program, and leads groups in Bedford and Forest.
BETTER BUSINESS
If you are in search of professional development and business education opportunities, look no further. WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance offers small business members of our Chamber an affordable health insurance option for employees. Entering its 27th year, Leadership Bedford is a 6-month leadership program that aids in the personal and professional development of participants while connecting them to our community through business tours, panels, and more. We partner with our local economic development offices to host Business Roundtables covering resources and hot business topics, such as artificial intelligence and the Small Business Development Center. We also utilize our annual membership survey to organize S.M.A.R.T. workshops that address topics specifically requested by our membership like marketing and grant writing.
ADVOCACY
While we are not affiliated with local government, our Chamber maintains strong partnerships with Bedford County tourism and economic development, Town of Bedford economic and community development, and Bedford County Public Schools. Members are encouraged to speak with our staff and board about issues facing their business, as well as any notable successes, changes, or avenues for support. We also have a Government Affairs committee that writes our Chamber's legislative policy and organizes an annual Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast to learn about the General Assembly session from our state legislators and the Bedford Forum, which allows the public to get to hear from local and state candidates.
COMMUNITY
We strive to keep our members informed about the happenings of our community, and the more you become involved with our Chamber, the more aware and involved you become in the goings-on of Bedford. By serving on committees and our board of directors, members are also able to directly impact the success of the Bedford area through strategic leadership and initiatives. We also maintain school partnerships that allow businesses to give back to the future workforce, especially with career and technical education (CTE).
Have questions about Chamber membership? Give us a call at (540) 586-9401 or email us at bacc@baccva.org. We would be happy to connect with you to learn about your business goals and how we may be able to help you achieve them. You can also take a peek at our Membership FAQ!