We wanted to share a few updates from our members regarding the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene:

Asheville Area Chamber

If anyone is inclined to provide financial assistance for businesses in Asheville and Buncombe County, donations can be made through PayPal to payments@ashevillechamber.org. Please mark them Hurricane Relief. These donations are tax deductible. When we are able, we will follow up with donors with a 2024 charitable contribution letter for their donation.

Boone Area Chamber

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is accepting donations to help with community and business relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the High Country. Gifts can be made at this link and the Chamber will distribute funds locally to businesses and community efforts as needs are further assessed throughout Watauga County over the days and weeks ahead:

https://www.boonechamber.com/foundation

McDowell Chamber Our team is stationed at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), where we are gathering and disseminating relevant information as quickly as possible. Suppliers who are bringing in supplies or coordinating transportation into Marion should deliver them to the central drop-off location at the Universal Building, McDowell Technical Community College: 634 College Dr., Marion, NC 28752. Please note that there will be no private pick-ups or individual distributions at this location. For those interested in volunteering, please call 828-559-9731 to learn how you can assist. While our Chamber office is currently without power, we are making every effort to respond to emails and phone messages promptly. We are also working diligently to gather a list of resources from our partners that can specifically support our member businesses as they begin recovery efforts. More information will be shared as soon as it becomes available. For those of you who have asked to donate, please follow this link: DONATE HERE.

Randleman Chamber

The Randleman Chamber has confirmed a tractor & trailer from our local furniture manufacturer to be loaded with supplies and sent to our friends in the NC Mountains, working through Samaritans Purse. If there are specific needs, please let us know at 336-495-1100 or chamber43@northstate.net. We will also have a drop off site at our 36 NASCAR Day Festival in Randleman on October 5 from 9am to 6pm. North Carolina Chamber

Resources can be found here:

https://ncchamber.com/2024/09/30/hurricane-helene-resources/

South Carolina Chamber

Resources available can be found here:

https://www.scchamber.net/news/2024/09/30/statement/resources-available-for-hurricane-helene-aftermath/

US Chamber Foundation – National Disaster Help Desk

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation manages the National Disaster Help Desk. They activate to support disaster-impacted communities and their businesses, if needed in your recovery effort. The Disaster Help Desk can be reached at 888-MY-BIZ-HELP (or 888-692-4943). The Help Desk will provide coordination of information among businesses, local chambers of commerce, nonprofits, government, and disaster recovery specialists. They also have disaster quick guides that may be helpful:

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/solutions/disaster-response-and-resiliency/disaster-quick-guides

These guides provide local chambers and small businesses with practical tools and resources to help your chamber and businesses better understand what steps to take after an event occurs.

CACCE Disaster Fund Grants

CACCE created a Disaster Fund to assist our members in times of natural disasters. CACCE member chambers that need assistance after a natural disaster may apply for a grant from this fund if they meet the following criteria:

• The Chamber has suffered financial losses due to direct damage to their building and/or a disruption in normal operations as a result of a natural disaster;
• The Chamber is located in a county that has been declared a federal disaster area (grant applications received from chambers in a community that has not been declared a federal disaster area will be reviewed at the discretion of the CACCE Executive Committee);
• The Chamber is a current paid member of CACCE; and,
• The Chamber has at least one full-time employee.

Please CLICK HERE for the application. Contact Tiffany at tfulmer@tlfexecutiveservices.com with any questions.

The CACCE Board of Directors is pleased to invite you to join us for our

2024 Annual Management Conference:

Wednesday - Friday, November 20 - 22, 2024

The Chetola Resort

Blowing Rock, NC

This conference is geared toward Chamber Executives and their senior staff members - and we'll have plenty of opportunities for you to network with your peers! Check out our conference sessions below:

• 2035: The Next Horizon for Chambers of Commerce
• GrowthZone 2024 Chamber Survey Results
• National Election Update & Analysis
• Policy Outlook for 2025
• Building Better Boards
• Bridging Generations in Small Business Leadership

One item we're particularly excited about is our Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening at the Perry Car Barn. We have been invited to visit the exclusive private showroom of Chip Perry, founder of AutoTrader.com. You will not want to miss this exclusive peek at his private car collection! Many thanks to Jeff Fishback and his team with Purchasing Alliance Solutions for sponsoring this special event for us!

Be sure to CLICK HERE for more information and to register!

Sunday, November 3

Game Against New Orleans Saints

The Carolina Panthers are excited to invite our CACCE member chambers to join us for our 2024 Carolinas Chamber Day! The event is scheduled for Sunday, November 3 and will feature the game between the Carolina Panthers & the New Orleans Saints. Tickets are $80 each and include admission to the networking event, food & (2) drink tickets, a game ticket, and a Panthers notebook to take home. You are welcome to invite your entire membership for this event.

The event will begin with early access to the stadium for the networking event and will be followed by the game:

• 9:30 AM – Check in begins - you and your guests will use the South Silver Club Entrance
• 9:45 AM – Networking event begins in Club Level
• 11:00 AM – Gates open for the game
• 1:00 PM – Game begins

To register your Chamber, please complete and return the application to Brooke Royal, at brooke.royal@panthers.nfl.com or call her at (704) 358-7727 to place your order. You will not register through CACCE – you will register your Chamber so that you can order as many tickets as you may need for your members. If interested, Brooke will reach out directly with instructions to complete your registration and payment.

CACCE is pleased to partner with Teri Smiley and Starfish Partnerships for our All Things Chamber Webinar Series. This is perfect for new staff members or a refresher for current staff.

The All Things Chamber bundle provides pre-recorded material, averaging a hour per module, plus downloadable notes pages of the slides and additional PDF documents. Participating chambers will have access to the website through December 2025.

The fee for the program is $195 per chamber. CLICK HERE to register. Participating chambers will also be invited to a private Facebook group for Q&A and connecting with fellow chamber members across the country. 

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy

The Question of Data Centers

Data centers have become indispensable to modern life and business, hosting everything from financial transactions and data storage to streaming and AI. While data centers have historically been seen as valuable economic development projects, our electrical infrastructure is straining under their growing energy needs. CICE’s latest policy brief discusses the benefits and costs of attracting data centers to your community and how to balance the necessary infrastructure with the potential economic rewards. Click here to read more.

Lumin Strategies

Have you missed our free advocacy trainings for chamber leaders? We offer one live each month, but you can catch up on our playlist right here and learn about topics like: 

• The 2024 Election: How Not to Step In It
• 5 Mistakes Chambers Make When Adopting Their Legislative Agenda
• Friends, Frenemies or Worse: Working with Your Local Government
• How to Fund Your Advocacy Program
• Childcare: A Business Issue

Aiken Chamber

Join us as we brew up connections during the Aiken Chamber Coffee Crawl. Starting October 3rd, you'll have the opportunity to network with other members in a relaxed setting and sample coffee at seven different member locations. And the best part is, the coffee is free, thanks to our daily sponsors. 

The Chamber’s Buy Aiken, Red Ticket Campaign, is an affordable, fun way to increase your business during the holiday season. The campaign is designed to encourage folks to spend locally with Aiken Chamber members.  It will educate people throughout our region on the great retail, dining, goods, and services we have to offer. A total of $5,000 will be awarded to Aiken shoppers during the campaign.

Blowing Rock Chamber

The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Director of Membership & Communications. Please see the CACCE Careers page for more information.

Greater Chapin Chamber

The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Events & Program Director. Please see the CACCE Careers page for more information.

Greenville-Pitt County Chamber

The Chamber had the privilege of honoring and celebrating our Pitt County Schools teachers at the 2024 Education Network Reception. As a Chamber, we are committed to connecting local educators with businesses to ensure they have the resources and support to shape our future workforce. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong partnership with Pitt County Schools. A special thank you to our presenting sponsors Optimum, Pitt County Educational Foundation, and Sylvan Learning for their continued support of local education!

Haywood Chamber

The Chamber is pleased to welcome David Francis as their new President & CEO. 

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber

The Lowcountry will get a briefing on how some of the biggest infrastructure projects coming to the area will impact the business and residential community at the Chamber's State of the Region Luncheon at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 3 at the Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa. 

Mount Pleasant Chamber

Public officials joined members of the local business community on August 29 to officially baptize the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce's (MPCC) new office site at 534 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included an invocation by Rev. Rob Dewey of the Lowcountry Community Chaplaincy, a rousing rendition of the US National Anthem and a few words from MPCC President Emeritus Chris Staubes, Mary Garcia of Pinnacle Financial Partners, MPCC President Kathleen Herrmann and Mayor Will Haynie. Following the ribbon-cutting, guests were treated to a tour of the new facility. Herrmann described the event as a "historic occasion." 

The Chamber hosted its 14th Annual Business and Community Expo at the Omar Shrine Center, Patriots Point with Presenting Sponsor Crews Subaru, Charleston on September 26. Despite the challenging weather conditions provided by the impending Tropical Storm Helene, several hundred attendees enjoyed the networking opportunities with a variety of exhibitors as they discovered the newest in products and services, learned about important community services and enjoyed free food provided by exhibitors.  As one attendee remarked, " The event not only provided valuable insights but also facilitated meaningful connections within the industry." 

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber

Partnership Grand Strand (PGS), the community foundation of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC), is pleased to announce the launch of its new podcast series, “Thrivin’ at The Beach.” This podcast tells the stories of those in the Grand Strand — from business leaders to emerging entrepreneurs — that are driving economic prosperity and creating a vibrant future for the region.

The Chamber is pleased to announce the promotion of Amanda Blomquist to the role of business development director of marketing. In this position, Blomquist will continue to lead the creation and promotion of member communications and marketing initiatives that enhance the understanding of chamber programs, services and events. This includes producing the weekly Grand Strander newsletter, showcasing daily content on social media accounts and supervising the business development team’s graphic designer. Blomquist has worked for the chamber for the past 10 years, starting as a marketing coordinator and advancing to marketing manager in September 2021. A graduate of Leadership Grand Strand Class 37, she’s also pursuing an Institute of Organization Management certification from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute. 

North Carolina Chamber

Women Lead NC

Raleigh, October 18

Discover the latest tools and strategies to supercharge your career, enhance personal well-being, and achieve professional fulfillment at Women Lead NC, one of the Southeast’s premier leadership and personal development conferences. Join ambitious women and their supportive male counterparts in Raleigh on Friday, October 18. Expanded with a more interactive event space and bigger names—soccer legend Mia Hamm and futurist Crystal Washington as keynote speakers—we expect a sold-out crowd of 1,000+ in attendance. This dynamic event offers a transformative full-day experience of promoting women in leadership, fostering advocacy, nurturing mentorship, prioritizing self-care, and striking work-life balance. Register > Individual Tickets or Reserved Tables of 10

Raleigh Chamber

The Chamber is excited to hit the links and network with more than 300 golfers playing on three courses at the Greater Raleigh Chamber Golf Tournament 2024 on Monday, October 21. Sponsorships include four participant slots, continental breakfast, a cart, green fees, boxed lunches, snacks and beverages during play, and a cocktail awards reception.

The Chamber’s Healthcare Summit 2024 on Thursday, November 14 will feature each of the three major healthcare institutions in our region showcasing their flagship projects in construction, system improvements, and healthcare procedures, presented by Duke Health, Gallagher, UNC Health, United Healthcare, and WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

South Carolina Chamber

The Chamber is pleased to welcome Mike Brenan as their new President & CEO. Please click here for the full press release.

Triangle East Chamber

The Chamber has hired Nneka Thompson as the JOCO WORKS Project Manager. Nneka brings over 20 years of workforce development experience, having led initiatives at national think tanks, non-profits, government entities, and Fortune 500 companies.

Wilmington Chamber

Julia DeLawter has joined our team in the role of Accounting Manager.  

Get ready for one of the most exciting nights of the year—our Wilmington Chamber's 6th Annual 40 Under 40 Awards is just around the corner, and we want you to be part of this amazing celebration! On Wednesday, October 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Thalian Hall, we’re coming together to celebrate 40 of our community's most talented young professionals. These rising stars—from healthcare champions to creative entrepreneurs—are shaking things up in their industries and making a big impact on our region. They’re the future, and this is your chance to applaud their achievements and hear their inspiring stories!

ACCE

Events and Communications Conference - Registration Open

Join us for ACCE’s Events and Communications Conference, October 16 - 18 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We will welcome both new and more experienced professionals from chambers of all sizes working in the events, programs and communications areas. Learning and discussion will take place in workshops, general sessions, smaller breakouts, and peer-led roundtables. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

Mark your calendars for #ACCE25 scheduled for July 22 - 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA. Check out the video here for the new host city!

IOM - 2025 Winter Institute Registration Now Open

We look forward to another amazing year at Tucson. Click here to go to the general Institute registration page, or continue reading for individual site information and registration pages.

Leadership Education Conference 2024

The Larry & Rebecca Collett Foundation is bringing top leadership development companies to the Lowcountry to foster growth and empowerment. The conference will be held November 4 & 5, 2024 at the Lowcountry Conference Center in Summerville, SC. Businesses investing in local leadership initiatives cultivate skilled professionals who drive innovation and success. Championing grassroots leadership development shows commitment to nurturing talent and sustainable growth, positioning companies as catalysts for positive change and leadership excellence in their communities. To learn more about this conference, click here.