Benefits of Membership
No doubt about it. Business is more complex and complicated than ever before. You know that. You also know that you need every advantage available to exceed your goals, surpass your competitors, gather, develop new business and retain your customers.
Here's how we can help...
Increase Your Customer Base
As a Chamber member you can make contact with new prospects and grow your business overall.
By attending First Monday Breakfasts, Area Councils, Business-After-Hours, seminars, networking
groups, CEO Roundtables, the annual Business-to-Business Expo, or other networking opportunities, you could meet your next customer or supplier.
And what about those times when you want to create a bigger presence for you organization? Our sponsorship opportunities give your company the chance for significantly increased visibility.
Gain Significant Visibility
Receiving more than 1,000 inquiries each year from newcomers, visitors, businesses and economic development brokers, the Chamber refers only member businesses.
All Chamber firms are listed in our annual membership directory, which every Chamber member receives and is available to newcomers moving to the area. Adverstising is sold in the directory to Chamber members only and is an excellent way to promote your business. The Chamber also provides its membership directory its Web site, offering members exposure worldwide.
Up-To-Date Activities
Members are kept up-to-date on all Chamber activities through DIRECT, our monthly newsletter, and Cobb In Focus, our award-winning bi-monthly magazine, as well as an e-newsletter and special notices and broadcast faxes.
Professional Assistance
The staff of the Cobb Chamber are "behind-the-scene-specialists" with backgrounds in economic development, marketing and community problem solving. They have the knowledge, commitment and experise you need to enhance your business and help you solve you problems. Use the Cobb Chamber staff as professional consultants to take your business to a new level of success.
Research Assistance
The Cobb Chamber's Walter Kelly Jr. Business Resource Center provides research and data customized to your needs. The center is a source of up-to-date information for companies or individuals searching for custom market information. The center includes multiple business databases that provide company profiles, demographic
reports with current year estimates and available commercial property.
Directories are available that list Cobb's major, international and manufacturing firms, as well as companies headquartered in Cobb. We also offer comprehensive meeting services, including audio/video-conferencing and meeting room space.
Our staff is available to assist you every step of the way.
Awareness & Recognition
Membership in the Cobb Chamber of Commerce is good business for you and for all of Cobb. Build your personal and professional image in the community by participating in the Chamber's recognition programs. Your Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year Awards honor the best businesses each Spring and the Business Community Service Awards recognizes deserving Cobb businesses for service to
the community through support of not-for-profit orginizations.
Community Investment
There is strength in numbers. A unified voice is much louder than that of an individual. By being a memeber of the Chamber you are part of the largest collective pro-business voice in the county. We advocate for you everyday, but especially the legislative session.
The Chamber works behind the scenes every day in the areas of economic development and government affairs to ensure Cobb remains a great place to live, work and play. Members can opt to receive From the Capitol Steps, an e-newsletter that is distributed when important issues in the county and state arise.
Valuable Marketing Channels for Increased Exposure
Chamber members can advertise to many target audiences via the Chamber's membership directory, newcomer's guide, Chamber's Web site, ACES Web site, award-winning Cobb In Focus magazine, DIRECT newsletter, to name a few. Dozens of program sponsorship and cooperative opportunities are available throughout the year to get your business message out to a targeted audience of Cobb's most successful businesses.
Reduce Costs and Overhead
We know how important the bottom-line is to you. As a Chamber member, you can tap into significant savings from some of our members who provide programs for products and services you need.
Today, you can start saving 3-5% on your health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield or 7.5% on your workman's compensation insurance. You can save significant dollars.
Cobb Chamber members also enjoy great discounts and the convenience of overnight delivery on all office supply needs through our partnership with Office Depot. These cost savings programs keep your membership working for you full-time and year-round.
Tax Deduction
Membership dues are tax-deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense for federal income tax purposes. However, dues are not considered charitable tax deductions.