Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Receives Highest Honors

Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Receives Highest Honors

The Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it has earned a Three-Star Accreditation by the United States Chamber of Commerce. In the State of Michigan, the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce holds the honor of the highest accredited chamber in the state.

The United States Chamber of Commerce awarded 29 chambers nation-wide with accreditation for their effective organizational procedures and outstanding contributions to positive change in their communities. The accreditation is earned by those chambers who have defined, reached, and maintained basic operational performance standards and who have significantly contributed to the good of their community, region, state, and country.

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. The final rating, Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars, depends on the chamber's ability to successfully meet additional criteria, including: accountability, financial transparency, employee involvement, political advocacy, and community involvement. The accrediting board, a panel of U.S. Chamber board members, votes on the final accreditation. Of the twenty-nine nation-wide chambers that received accreditation, one chamber received accreditation with four stars, seventeen received accreditation three stars, and eleven chambers received accreditation status.

"Accreditation is one of the highest honors bestowed on local chambers fighting for pro-growth and jobs policies at the federal, state, and local level," said Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber President and CEO. "We are proud to recognize these chambers and their members for helping to advance the principles of free enterprise - the bedrock of this prestigious award."

"On behalf on the Board of Directors, our members and the staff, the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce is extremely pleased to receive the high honors from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber works diligently to provide member services, business representation and advocacy to produce a positive economic environment", said Kathleen L. Mechem, Battle Creek Chamber President and CEO.

The Accreditation program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the only one of its kind to monitor the dynamic chamber of commerce industry. Rolled out in 1964, the program was developed by a team of chamber executives and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for continuous improvement of local chambers of commerce.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.