About Us
OUR MISSION
To advance a successful business climate by attending to the civic, economic, and cultural betterment of our community.
We achieve this through:
WHO WE ARE
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Alaska. Founded in 1915 by local business leaders, the Chamber today is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) member-driven business organization representing 1,000 companies and a regional workforce of approximately 50,000. For over 100 years, we have served as a resource where our members can gain business knowledge, insight, and strength as business professionals.
Our vision is to advance a successful business climate by attending to the civic, economic and cultural betterment of our community.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce a 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective procedures, and positive community impact. Of the 7,500 chambers in the United States, 187 of these are Accredited. These elite chambers represent the top 3% of all chambers in the United States.
“Chambers of commerce nationwide play a vital role in their communities every day,” said Raymond P. Towle, Vice President, Federation Relations and Coalition Partnerships at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “From connecting business owners with needed resources, to advocating on behalf of their region with lawmakers, these chambers convene thought leaders to strengthen the collective voices of their members. Achieving Accreditation is a mark of excellence for the organization, its staff, and its leadership. This designation recognizes the positive impact these organizations have on their communities and honors their ongoing commitment to serving local businesses.”
The U.S. Chamber's Accreditation Program promotes excellence in the chamber industry and fosters a pro-business environment across America. To receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet standards in governance, government affairs, communications, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.
"The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce has maintained Accreditation for twenty years, since 2005," said Kathleen McArdle, Anchorage Chamber President & CEO. "Our board and staff are instrumental to ensuring we maintain compliance and industry standards, and I am so proud to serve them as we execute our mission. It's an honor to not only steward the organization with excellence and efficiency, but also earn the trust and partnership of our members and the Anchorage community."
Local chambers are rated as Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars. State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members, makes the final determination.
PARTNERSHIPS
We partner with local organizations we've helped start, or those who provide a service close to our mission and the betterment of Anchorage.
A critical part of the Anchorage Chamber's efforts revolves around our public advocacy efforts. This will include a menu of groundbreaking efforts to improve everything from public school outcomes and affordable housing to a greater understanding of the many moving cultural pieces making up a greater share of Anchorage's economy.
In cooperation with efforts like Choose Anchorage with AEDC, the Anchorage School District's Academies of Anchorage, and longtime partnerships like the Anchorage ATHENA Society and Anchorage School Business Partnership, the Anchorage Chamber has taken the lead in areas like talent and workforce.
Alliance to Activate Anchorage
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Visit Anchorage, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, and the Anchorage Downtown Partnership have come together to form the Alliance to Activate Anchorage (AAA), a non-binding, consensus-driven coalition on economic and workforce goals to improve stability and activate growth in the community.
The AAA is comprised of two board representatives from each organization who further strengthen the connections that already exist at the executive and staff level. The respective organizations have many shared goals that are vital to the stability and future of Anchorage, and their combined memberships represent a significant portion of Anchorage businesses, workforce, and economic activities across all sectors. The coalition plans and coordinates common action, better leveraging resources, supporting local businesses, and actively pursuing economic opportunities, which allows the group to better advocate for growth and opportunities for the community.