How much do you really know about your local Chamber of Commerce? If you are like most consumers and non-business owners, you know that chambers of commerce exist but you are probably not aware of all the good they do in the local community.

At the heart of almost every local economy, you will find a thriving organization like the Sterling Heights Area Chamber of Commerce (SUSCC). Celebrating and promoting the diversity and uniqueness of their communities, chambers of commerce form the fabric of America. In essence, chambers of commerce are business and community associations, generally incorporated as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit business. Chambers of commerce like SUSCC aren’t part of local, state, or federal government, though they do often collaborate with government to accomplish their mission.

The Sterling Heights Area Chamber of Commerce — like most chambers nationally — is funded by membership dues as well as non-dues items such as revenue generated from events, sponsorships, contracts, and sales of various products and services. The vast majority of chamber membership rolls are small businesses - businesses with fewer than 20 to 35 employees, on average.

Nationally, today’s chamber of commerce — rather than being narrowly focused on one particular industry, issue, cause, or activity — focus on a broad range of activities and support for both businesses and communities, and really, that’s the whole point of this post.

The next time you’re looking for information on a local business (whether it be a list of plumbers, babysitting services, Realtors, Restaurants, etc.), consider visiting the Sterling Heights Area Chamber of Commerce website. There you will find a detailed list of local businesses that serve the communities of Sterling Heights, Utica, Shelby Township and Macomb County. With over 1,850 members — all of who believe they benefit immensely from not working in a vacuum — you are bound to find exactly what you are looking for.