Does the Chamber receive funding from the City or the State?
No, the Chamber does not receive any funding from the City or the State.
How is the Chamber funded?
Our members invest in our entity. Our entity has a 501 (c) 6. A 501 (c) 6 organization is tax-speak for a business association such as a chamber of commerce. Although they’re organized to promote business, they don’t generate a profit and don’t pay shares or dividends. That qualifies them as non-profit organizations, exempt from paying income tax
Does the Chamber represent a political party?
No, the Chamber is pro-business and encourages legislation that does the same.
How long has the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce been in existence?
In 1887, a group of local businessmen banded together to improve the business climate in Quincy. The goals of the organization were to “stimulate and foster… in every proper way… the commercial and manufacturing interests of the city, and at all times, and in every place, to promote her prosperity and growth by all means within our power, both as an association and as individuals.”
Those business leaders believed “that in the end, our private interests will be best served by whatever is best for the general welfare.”
The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce is different in many ways from the Young Men’s Business Association founded in 1887, but at our core, we remain the organization our forefathers created that is committed to the economic growth of our area.
How many members does the Chamber currently have?
That number fluctuates throughout each year as businesses open and close, change ownership, etc. As of October 17, 2019, the Chamber has 640 members.
How does the Chamber differ from the Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) or The District?
The Chamber focuses on businesses that currently exist. We focus on businesses that exist by promoting workforce development initiatives, leadership programs, talent retention tools, and advocacy. GREDF’s initial work is to promote Quincy and attract new businesses to the area. The District focuses on the downtown area (boundaries are: Broadway to State, Front to 12th Street). They are responsible for the revitalization, promotion, and preservation of downtown.
