Granby and Simsbury Chambers of Commerce have announced that their memberships voted to approve a merger between the two organizations. The merged organization will officially begin June 1 with the first event being the 3rd Annual Granby and Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament on June 13 at Hop Meadow Country Club. The new organization will initially be called the Granby/Simsbury Chamber of Commerce but a marketing committee will be created to develop a regional name, logo and marketing after June. The incoming Board President, Tim Baker of Metric Financial, is currently vice president on the Granby Board of Directors and a director on the Simsbury Board, bringing experience and insight to his new position.
“We are so proud to see membership take advantage of this historic opportunity. Our team continues its dedication to providing a platform to support the success of our member businesses,” states Morgan Hilyard, executive director of the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a win-win situation,” says Granby Chamber President Bob Marx, who first served on the Board of Directors in 1998. “Granby will always maintain its small town feel, but our members want to grow their businesses and what better way than to join forces with our neighbors from Simsbury. Our combined chamber will offer the kind of diversity and opportunity not previously found in our little hamlet.”
Simsbury Board President Joe Beale says, “The purpose of any Chamber of Commerce is simple: provide support to its small business members so they can thrive and grow. As Granby and Simsbury merge into one organization, they will be able to use their combined resources to fulfill that vital mission at a higher level than ever before.”
The chambers are merging to provide members with increased value, a trend seen on a both local and national scale. Members will receive more visibility and business opportunities with a larger membership base and already successful events will continue to grow. The merged chamber will have more power to advocate for the business community and available resources will be more efficient coming from one core entity. The merged organization of almost 500 will also attract businesses from the area to participate and the expectations for growth are exciting.
The Simsbury Chamber of Commerce began in 1959 when a group of businessmen met at a local tavern and formed a retail merchants association. Since then, the Simsbury Chamber has specialized in creating opportunities for its members to succeed by supporting local business, providing resources and cultivating relationships.
The Granby Chamber began in 1956 and some of its founding members are still around today, including Mike Guarco, Sr. of State Line Oil, Hal Pierce of Pierce Builders and Mike Keating of the former Granby Pharmacy.