Metro South Chamber Accomplishments

Awards and Honors

The Metro South Chamber of Commerce has been recognized with the following awards and honors:

• One of two Chamber in Massachusetts with a Five Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for offering sound programs and organizational procedures, and for reliably contributing to positive change in the community. (1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2006*)
• National Association of Membership Development (NAMD) Award of Excellence Winner (1997) for outstanding membership programs
• American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Communication Excellence Award for the Action Report newsletter (1996/1997)
• American Economic Development Council (AEDC) Award for superior quality for the Chamber's website (2000)
• Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB) Workforce Champions Heavyweight Division Award for outstanding leadership and service in workforce development (2001)
• Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB) Workforce Champion Award for accessing state training grants (2001)
• Center for Workforce Preparation (CWP), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Award for groundbreaking leadership in design and implementation of the Workforce 2020 Project (2001)
• Congressional Recognition for the establishment of the Metro South Business Assistance Center in 1999
• Official Citations from the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in recognition for outstanding work in helping to shape the workforce development policies in Brockton and the Commonwealth.
• Official Citations from the Massachusetts Legislature in recognition for the Chamber's environmental awareness efforts.

*The Chamber is currently preparing to undergo the process of re-accreditation which will be completed in early 2004. The rigorous re-accreditation process is completed every five years by recognized and experienced professionals affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Chambers are evaluated on governance, finances, programs, government affairs, communication, technology, and facilities.

Chamber Accomplishments

• HELPED MEMBERS WITH RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS - This continues to be a priority of the Chamber. Our efforts have included hosting a special forum to explore the challenges of rising health care premiums and offer best practices and real solutions for businesses to reduce their health care costs. The Chamber worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield to offer several new HMO and PPO plans to members. The Chamber also introduced a Section 125 "Premium Only Plan" which helps members control their health care costs. The Chamber continues to lobby at the Statehouse for legislation that would reform the health insurance system and reduce rates for small businesses.
  
  
• Offered Regular Networking Opportunities - including Good Morning Metro South, Business After Hours, and the Annual Business to Business Expo which provided members with opportunities to meet other business leaders and develop profitable business relationships. The Chamber is working on plans to develop more structured networking opportunities, including a "leads" group.
  
  
• Led a Statewide Effort Opposing an Increase in the Commercial Property Tax Rate - The Chamber organized a statewide coalition of Chambers of Commerce to lobby the Legislature against a proposal to increase commercial property tax classification rates and successfully defeated a local proposal in the City of Brockton to increase rates, saving businesses hundreds to thousands of dollars.
  
  
• Hosted many high-profile speakers - Including Governor Mitt Romney, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas Finneran, Senate President Robert Travaglini, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Senator Edward Kennedy, City of Brockton Mayor James Harrington, State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, Legal Sea Foods Restaurant CEO Roger Berkowitz, Bridgewater State College President Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, Retailers Association of MA President Jon Hurst, Candidates for Governor Chrisy Mihos and Deval Patrick, and many more.
  
  
• Recognized local businesses - through Annual Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, ATHENA Award, Economic Impact Awards, and the Charles A. Fuller Memorial Award.
  
  
• Enhanced the Chamber Website - Redesigned the Chamber's website to offer many more value-added features for members including secure online registration, information for relocation purposes and for business and leisure travel planning, and an online membership directory which lists all members at no additional charge. The website received over 100,000 unique visitors in 2005.
  
  
• Created On-Line Jobs Forum - This is a new service where members can post job openings within their company on the Metro South Chamber's website. This is a member benefit, a service offered to members free of charge.
  
  
• ADVOCATED for the REUSE OF Naval Air base - The Chamber lobbied to adopt the new LMR re-use plan for the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. The Metro South Chamber of Commerce recommended that the communities of Abington, Rockland, and Weymouth pursue the implementation of the proposed Naval Air Base Reuse Plan, for the purpose of providing additional housing and commercial space. This re-use plan was subsequently approved.
  
  
• Celebrated the Metro South Region - A Taste of Metro South offered an opportunity to discover the treasures of the region. Thousands of people were introduced to local restaurants, performers, and cultural and community organizations through this successful annual event. The Chamber also continually promotes the region and member businesses through the Action Report, Book for Business, and the media.
  
  
• PROVIDED REFERRALS TO MEMBERS - The Chamber staff receive phone and email requests for referrals to local businesses all the time. Last year, the Chamber provided thousands of referrals exclusively to Chamber members and fulfilled many more requests for information on communities in the Metro South region.
  
  
• Created an HR Hotline - The HR Helpline answers questions from members on a wide range of topics, including: wage and hour regulations, workers' compensation, hiring and firing/discipline, sexual harassment, all types of discrimination, the ADA, the FMLA, and many related employment law issues.
  
  
• Developed a Regional Tourism/Marketing initiative - The Chamber created a regional street map, a Brockton Street Map, a Historical Brockton Map, a City of Brockton Promotional Brochure, Brockton Information Boards, and an on-line tourism website to promote the region to visitors and attract new customers for local businesses. The Chamber is working on several advertisements in regional tourism publications and on developing new welcome and way-finder signs in the City of Brockton.
  
  
• Sponsored over a dozen small business programs - A variety of topics were offered, ranging from "Doing Business with the Government" and "Low-Cost Advertising" to "Business Etiquette" and the "Southeastern Venture Forum", through the Business Assistance Center.
  
  
• Advocated for Reform of the UI System - The Chamber lobbied the Legislature to reform the Unemployment Insurance system.
  
  
• Conducted an EITC Awareness campaign - Partnered with the City of Brockton and the Internal Revenue Service to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit to residents in the greater Brockton area, bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the region's economy.
  
  
• Partnered with over 50 agencies to achieve progress for Metro South - A few partners include: Brockton Area Transit Authority, Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board, Brockton Parking Authority, Brockton Symphony Orchestra, Downtown Brockton Association, MassDevelopment, MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless, UMASS Donahue Institute, and many more.
  
  
• Extended the Economic target area - The Chamber has extended the Brockton Area Economic Target Area (ETA) into West Bridgewater. This will expand the opportunities for the development of new businesses and jobs to this area.
  
  
• ORGANIZED "English for all workers" summit - This summit assembled together a forum of 65 business, community, and political leaders to address the backlog of over 2,000 local individuals wishing to learn the English language in order to fully participate in the local workforce.
  
  
• A Chamber newsletter published monthly entitled The Action Report which reaches over 45,000 readers, helping them stay informed and updated.
  
  
• Instituted Workforce 2020, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber and the U.S. Department of Labor, to assist employers with the challenges they face around recruiting, training, and retaining qualified workers.
  
  
• Over $1 million in renovations to the former Eastern Edison electricity generating facility in Brockton. Funding for the project came from member donations. The historic Thomas Edison building now houses the Chamber's headquarters, the Metro South Business Assistance Center and also serves as a community center for public meetings and events.
  
  
• Created the Metro South Business Assistance Center (BAC) in 1998 with private and public grants. The Business Assistance Center, located in Brockton, is a one-stop resource center for existing, start-up, or expanding businesses.
  
  
• Conducted a toxics use reduction awareness campaign in 2000 and 2001, which educated over 40,000 residents and businesses in Plymouth County on pollution prevention.
  
  
• Created an innovative on-line business assistance web page, which can provide business counseling via e-mail (www.metrosouthchamber.com/BAC).
  
  
• Conducted a comprehensive training needs assessment among over 900 employers in the Brockton Metropolitan Service Area.
  
  
• Convened focus groups within six major economic sectors within the region to identify employer training needs.
  
  
• Published and distributed a quality community guide which highlights the region.
  
  
• Published a full color regional street map which highlights major attractions.
  
  
• Sponsored A Taste of Metro South and supported the Metro South Jazz Festival, which increase the awareness and appreciation of living and working in the region.
  
  
• Coordinated the development of a series of Downtown Brockton Revitalization meetings which culminated in the creation of a Main Street Program.
  
  
• Helped advise the City of Brockton on economic development strategy by serving as a member of the Mayor's Economic Advisory Council.
  
  
• Worked closely with Brockton 21st Century Economic Development Corporation on a number of issues related to business investment and economic expansion.
  
  
• Publicized economic development activity in the Metro South area to members and the media.
  
  
• Sponsored the Small Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awards annually.
  
  
• Sponsored an economic development award that recognizes substantial business investment in the community.
  
  
• Sponsored a community Earth Day event, which brought over 150 volunteers from throughout the community together to clean the Salisbury Brook in Downtown Brockton.
  
  
• Conducted numerous workshops on various business-related subjects, including a half-day program focusing on employment issues and a full day program addressing lean manufacturing practices.

Memberships/Affiliations

U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Charter Member)
American Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (NEACCE)
Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE)
Massachusetts Council of Chambers of Commerce
National Association of Membership Development (NAMD)
Massachusetts Association of Membership Development (MAMD)
Plymouth County Development Council (PCDC)
Massachusetts Economic Development Council (MEDC)
Southeast Massachusetts Tech Prep Consortium (Step-Up)
Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB)
Downtown Brockton Association (DBA)
Mayor of Brockton's Council of Economic Advisors

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