The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce received a 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, the highest accreditation rating that can be achieved and making it the highest accredited chamber of commerce in Colorado.
This honor puts the Chamber among the top 1 percent of chambers nationwide.
“Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and for positively influencing action in their community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber Executive Director of Political Affairs and Federation Relations. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.”
Accreditation means the Fort Collins Area Chamber is recognized nationally as offering quality programs, practicing sound organization procedures and reliably contributing to positive change in the community. Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars or 5-Stars.
The Fort Collins Area Chamber was first accredited in 1970 and, first received the 5-Star rating in 2009.
“In a way, accreditation is validation. It is external validation that compared to our peers and a set of exacting national standards, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is performing at a very high level for our members and the community,” said Fort Collins Area Chamber President and CEO David L. May. “It has been the expectation of our board of directors that we participate in this program, which is voluntary and involves a significant amount of work.
“But it’s worth it because it forces us to methodically examine what we’re doing and focus on making improvements. To move to the highest level of accreditation is very gratifying.”
The accreditation application, which took several months to complete, required the Chamber to submit materials regarding all of its departments and procedures in the areas of governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, program development, communication, technology and facilities. The Chamber received perfect scores in the technology, communications and facilities sections of the application.
The Accreditation examining committee noted several areas of excellence for the Fort Collins Area Chamber, noting the Chamber’s leadership role in the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, Fort Collins Allied Business Group and Fix North I-25 Business Alliance. The chamber has developed an excellent advocacy website, FortCollinsWorks.com.
“The chamber has demonstrated a good track record of operating a successful chamber and achieving desirable results for its members. The chamber should address the recommendations in this report and pursue a course of continuous improvement. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is proud to accredit the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce with our Five-Star designation. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!,” notes the Review Board.
About the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Process
Since 1964, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has invited state and local chambers of commerce to participate in its Accreditation Program. The program was designed to stimulate a continuous self-analysis of an organization’s growth and development with an opportunity to reassess its objectives, organization resources, program of work, procedures and achievements. 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.
About the Fort Collins Area Chamber
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading membership-based organization in Northern Colorado, dedicated to helping business succeed. Investing in the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce puts members in contact with more that 1,100 business owners and managers in the market. For more that 100 years, the Fort Collins Area Chamber has influenced efforts to maintain and grow the business community in Fort Collins. For more information about the Chamber call (970)482-3746 or visit www.FortCollinsChamber.com