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Chambers of commerce connect, strengthen business community
Chambers of commerce connect, strengthen business community
South Fayette Township belongs to South West Regional and Pittsburgh Airport Area groups
By Andrea Iglar
Before LinkedIn, there were chambers of commerce.
While these business associations traditionally focused on professional networking, today their role has expanded beyond in-person mixers.
South Fayette Township is a dues-paying member of two chambers: the South West Regional Chamber of Commerce in Collier (500 members) and the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce in Moon (900 members).
Many businesses in South Fayette also belong to each chamber, and new members are welcome to join from anywhere, even outside a chamber’s footprint.
Chamber representatives say that while business-to-business connections remain the core of their work, they have broadened their functions, partnerships and technology to help amplify business messages across their communities.
The South West Regional chamber, focusing on 10 communities in the West and South Hills, has been operating for nearly 100 years.
Mandi Pryor, the executive director, said the organization has evolved to become a marketing and promotional support system for members, including small businesses and people working outside the brick-and-mortar model.
“A chamber of commerce in its simplest form is a way to connect with other businesses,” she said. “We’re also shouting out that they’re here.”
Technology has driven chamber services in recent years, and one of the membership perks is digital marketing via e-newsletters, social media platforms, webpages and a digital sign board. Pryor also interviews business leaders for audio and video broadcasts, and the chamber is developing an app to connect people.
“We’re looking toward the future, five to 10 years down the road,” Pryor said.
Essentially, the chamber aims to highlight everything the community offers and attract people to live and work here, she said.
“We’re here to support any way we can, whether you’re a community member or a business,” Pryor said.
Each chamber has a small paid staff and a volunteer board of directors, and they heavily rely on members to serve on committees. South West Regional’s full-time director has help from a part-time office manager. The Airport Area chamber has one part-time and five full-time employees.
The Airport Area chamber, with roots reaching back 120 years, serves 34 communities in the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor.
South Fayette has been more connected to the airport since the Southern Beltway opened in 2021. The township is home to the South Fayette Way interchange and about four miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s toll highway.
Chris Heck, president and CEO of the Airport Area chamber, said his organization has a strong partnership with the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
“The airport attracts all kinds of different businesses, so in turn we have become the airport authority's voice to the business community,” he said.
A few dozen chamber members are in the shipping, trucking and logistics industry, and when the new airport opens later this year, additional companies, including cargo, are expected to move to the area.
While larger corporations belong to the chamber, about 80 percent of members are small businesses who join for networking, executive director Michelle Kreutzer said.
“We’re primarily here to support the business community and advocate for them and connect people,” she said.
Each chamber holds about 50 events a year, mixing social events with educational speakers, elected official updates and other types of gatherings.
In October, the Airport Area chamber partnered with South Fayette Township to host “Get to Know Your Municipality” at the municipal center. Business leaders attended for a presentation about township services, a building tour and networking.
“We benefit from meeting business leaders who invest in our community and hearing what they have to say about issues that are important to them,” Township Manager John M. Barrett said.
Heck said it’s important for the business community to have good relationships with government officials, and vice versa.
“The municipalities see the chambers as an asset," he said. "It’s just part of a successful fabric of a strong municipality.”
