Welcome to the oldest and most influential business organization in Upstate South Carolina.
2100+ Greenville Chamber Investors make up our region’s largest business network, offering countless opportunities to develop strategic relationships. Who you know and what they know may be your most valuable asset...
Our vision is a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed and people prosper. We lead, convene and mobilize the business community to drive regional economic growth.
ADVOCATE for policies that promote business growth and oppose policies that stifle growth.
CONNECT businesses to clients, programs and resources that help their businesses grow.
DEVELOP our region’s next generation of
business leaders and community stakeholders.
ACCELERATE our region by working with area
partners to attract, develop and retain talent, and expand our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
INCLUDE all stakeholders in initiatives that allow all citizens opportunities to share in the Upstate’s economic prosperity.
ADVOCACY
The Greenville Chamber is the voice of the Greenville business community. We represent you with decision-makers on the local, state and federal level with the goal of making it easier to do business in Greenville.
ADVOCATE
Two full-time government affairs professionals work to... -pass a pro-business legislative agenda. -prevent anti-business legislation. -research and develop solutions to address business concerns. -collaborate with other business advocacy organizations to represent the best interests of our Investors.
EDUCATE
To ensure our business community has a strong voice, we work to educate Investors via... -Issues Committee Updates for collaborating and interacting with decision makers, including Small Business Policy, Legislative, Environmental and Infrastructure. All Chamber Investors are welcome. -weekly updates and regular blog posts on business advocacy topics and news. -candidate schools to prepare business leaders for public office. -in-depth summits on current business policy topics.
IMPACT
Notable Legislative Victories Angel Investor Act (2013)
Confederate Flag Removal (2015)
Increased Gas Tax for Roads (2017)
Ethics Reform (2016)
Numerous Tort Reform/Tax Labor Bills
The Greenville Chamber leads the Upstate Chamber Coalition, a business advocacy association of 11 Chambers who represent 8,000 businesses and over 200,000 employees with a strong, collective voice for Upstate SC businesses.
CONNECT
Jason Zacher Vice President of Business Advocacy 864-239-3718 jzacher@greenvillechamber.org Katie Busbee Director of Legislative Affairs 864-239-3748 kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org @upstatechamber UpstateChamberCoalition upstatechamber.org
BUSINESS GROWTH Businesses of all sizes want to see growth. The Chamber provides opportunities for our Investors to connect with peers, mentors and potential customers; to learn about new businesss trends and best practices; and take advantage of group purchasing power to save money that may be better spent on improving and growing your business.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS LINKS NETWORKING EVENTS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS’ FORUM
BUSINESS CELEBRATIONS BUSINESS RECOGNITION
“BEING AN ACTIVE CHAMBER INVESTOR AFFORDS SYNESIS THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO NETWORK WITH FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT ALSO TO SHARE OUR LEADERSHIP AND INDUSTRY EXPERTISE IN SUPPORT OF GROWING AREA BUSINESSES.” - Ricardo Studart Synesis International, Inc.
CONNECT Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Tripp James, Business Growth Programs Manager, at tjames@greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3728.
LEADERSHIP Since 1973, growing and retaining educated and effective leaders has been a key focus area for the Greenville Chamber. The Leadership Development programs below are designed and facilitated with the goal to build a better Greenville by developing current and future leaders. LEADERSHIP GREENVILLE & LEADERSHIP GREENVILLE ALUMNI A 10-month intensive look into the issues affecting Greenville County, this program prepares and motivates participants to provide quality, dynamic leadership. Participants are selected via a formal application process each May. Alumni continue learning and relationship building through activities and events. PULSE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Designed for professionals ages 22-39, the program provides outlets for social connection, as well as professional and leadership development opportunities. OPPORTUNITY GREENVILLE A 5-week program packed with information and activities to create an understanding of the inner workings of Greenville. IGNITE CORPORATE LEADERSHIP DAY Available to large groups/corporations, a day full of information from key community decision-makers and opportunities to engage participants and spark interest in Greenville.
“WHEN PULSE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FIRST STARTED THE INTERN EXPERIENCE, I PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST CLASS AS AN INTERN. NOW I’M LIVING AND WORKING IN GREENVILLE AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL. I AM ACTIVE IN PULSE AND CHAIRED THE INTERN PROGRAM A FEW YEARS AGO. THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER, THE GREENVILLE CHAMBER HAS BEEN WITH ME - Lindsey Cunningham EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.” ScanSource
CONNECT Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Tami Miller, Leadership Development Director, at tmiller@greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3743.
COMPETITIVENESS Through high-impact partnerships, the Greenville Chamber is able to help build a competitive and vibrant economy, cutting across traditional organizations and roles to address strategic opportunities and threats. We are dedicated to developing a qualified workforce for our region, benchmarking challenges and successes with an annual Regional Economic Scorecard, and continuing to nurture our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
ACCELERATE
Accelerate is Greenville’s private sector fueled economic development initiative. It exists through four strategies in an aggressive and forward-thinking effort to cultivate further growth. GROW NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERS POSITION OUR WORKFORCE FOR 21ST CENTURY OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE THE NUMBER & PERFORMANCE OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES LEAD NEW TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS
TALENT ATTRACTION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SOULTIONS ATTRACT & DEVELOP TALENT | ALIGN RESOURCES | REMOVE BARRIERS
INTERCOMMUNITY LEADERSHIP VISITS Intercommunity Leadership Visits provide opportunities for business and community leaders to benchmark best-in-class development practices and engage in high-level networking. We also host many visiting delegations from around the world.
KEY INFORMATION The Chamber’s research team maintains a wide range of research and information to keep our Investors current and aware.
CONNECT Our Economic Competitiveness Team leads the Chamber’s HR Law Update, BBQ Bash/Manufacturers Celebration and several Industry Roundtables. Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Hank Hyatt, Vice President of Economic Competitiveness at hhyatt@greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3714.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION The Greenville Chamber’s focus on Diversity & Inclusion is designed to encourage a vibrant, local economy where diverse businesses, business owners and professionals are an integral part of creating economic growth and prosperity.
GET INVOLVED The Chamber’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative offers innovative ways to help develop diverse businesses and leaders, including these programs: COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PIPELINE HISPANIC BUSINESS COMMITTEE NETNIGHT MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
ATHENA LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SUMMIT
“I’VE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS; HOWEVER, THE MBA PROGRAM IS HANDS-DOWN THE MOST INTENSIVE, ENGAGING, NON-FLUFF, KNOCK-DOWN, DRAGOUT, MEANINGFULLY USEFUL SERIES I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED.” - Anita Garrett The Weathers Group
CONNECT Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Nika White, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion, at nwhite@greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3727. @GreenvilleChamberDiversityandInclusion
@GvlChamberD&I
EXPOSURE The Chamber provides Investors with several opportunities to showcase their businesses. From keeping your profile up-to-date in our Business Directory, taking advantage of banner ads and other advertising opportunities, to sponsoring and speaking at events, hosting business celebrations, engaging in social media, and posting events on our Investor Events Calendar, the possibilities are many. Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Rionne Ridgeway, Investor Relations Manager, at rridgeway@greenvillechamber.org or 864.239.3756.
VALUE-ADD PARTNERS The Greenville Chamber’s 2100+ Investor base allows us the unique opportunity to negotiate and provide group purchasing power to provide a return on investment for the products and services our Investors need the most.. We’ve carefully selected partners with programs that are designed to positively impact your bottom line. Estimated savings for our Investors last year was over $1,000,000!
PLUS we’re adding even more Value-Add opportunities in 2018! Learn more at greenvillechamber.org or contact Lorraine Woodward at lwoodward@greenvillechamber.org or 864.239.3742.
- MORE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES Business & Meeting Space | Certificates of Origin Event Admissions | Programs | Notary Services