Member Benefits
Whether you are a sole proprietor or a large business, your investment in the Chamber comes with many benefits that can significantly boost your business. You can enjoy a return on your investment by utilizing chamber's marketing, savings, advocacy, and networking benefits.
Through your investment you are not only committing to the growth of your own business, but to the growth of the community as well.
The Chamber works to represent the interests of business at the local, state and federal levels throughout the year. We work independently and in conjunction with similar organizations and area chambers to ensure that the interests of our members are heard.
The Bethlehem Chamber offers a variety of health and dental insurance plans for members and their employees, including Medicare plans. Our experienced staff will assist you in finding a plan that works for your particular needs. For details, visit our Health Insurance page.
The Chamber offers members the opportunity to connect with other businesses and leaders in the community to build relationships, contribute leads and referrals, and share best business practices. These groups meet regularly and are non-competitive and mutually supportive.
Unlike some chamber referral groups, this opportunity is available to our members at no additional cost. For details visit our Leads Group page.
Our Chamber frequently receives requests for business referrals and references regarding contractors, service providers, restaurants, local attractions, realtors, attorneys, accountants, retailers, and more. It is our policy to only refer members in good standing. Your service or product can be shared by word-of-mouth, email, phone, or via our Online Directory. Make sure your business is eligible for referrals by becoming a member today!
The Chamber provides frequent opportunities to meet other business owners and to promote your business through Professional Development events, Networking events, our Annual Awards Dinner (Spring), and our Annual Golf Outing (Fall). These events allow members to develop relationships, grow their networks, exchange ideas, and strengthen and improve their professional network.
Several times a year, these events are in conjunction with other area chambers, giving your business exposure throughout the Capital Region.
Members have a wide variety of opportunities to promote their businesses to Chamber members and the community. All members receive a free listing in our annual Print Directory and Online Directory. Members can share events and news releases on our website and in our e-newsletter at no cost, and member-to-member discounts are free to post.
Members can also reach potential clients and customers by purchasing our mailing list or labels, advertising on our website or in our e-newsletter, participating in one of our community events (such as our Biking, Burgers and Beverages; Golf Outing, or Annual Awards), advertising in our print directory, and sharing a Hot Deal. Advertising opportunities with the Chamber start at $75. Paid Marketing-Advertising with the Chamber
The Chamber also uses our marketing tools to promote members via our website, social media (facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn), print directory and print advertising.
The Chamber publishes a weekly newsletter which is emailed out to all members and community partners every Wednesday. The newsletter highlights the Chamber's activities and upcoming events and shares important legislative updates. Events and news releases that our members post are also included in the e-newsletter.
The Chamber offers seminars regularly featuring Guest Speakers and experts who explore topics of interest and importance to businesses and their employees. We also provide training to meet some NYS mandated requirements.
The Bethlehem Chamber has a strong Think and Buy Bethlehem campaign for member businesses in town. This program encourages fellow businesses and the community to support our local businesses and keep money in our local community. The Chamber runs a Restaurant Week each year to highlight our restaurant members and holiday shopping marketing and promotions.
A Certificates of Origin (CO) is an international trade document used to determine the origin of goods for official, commercial and financial reasons. Virtually every country in the world considers the origin of imported goods when determining what duty will be assessed on the goods or, in some cases, whether the goods may be legally imported at all. COs attest that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a particular country (country of origin). The 1923 Geneva Convention named Chambers of Commerce as the official body to issue Certificates of Origin. There are more and more reports of goods being rejected at ports because of forged certificates.
The Bethlehem Chamber can assist members with the completion of COs during regular business hours. There is no charge for Members. Please call the Bethlehem Chamber at 518-439-0512 to make an appointment..
Hot Deals provide our Members with an opportunity to share a special promotion or deal with Member Businesses and with the community.
Members of the Bethlehem Chamber have exclusive access to several savings programs. Oftentimes these powerful programs can help our Members save enough to cover the cost of their Chamber investment, and then some!
Currently we offer programs with the following companies. Click here to learn more about their programs and how you can save.
- ADP
- Constant Contact
- Energy Now Consultants
The Member Spotlight was created to allow us to showcase our members to the Chamber membership and to the community. Each quarter we are proud to highlight a different Chamber member and share the spotlight on our website and social media channels.
Chamber Members are encouraged to offer a special, discount or gift with purchase to the Bethlehem Chamber membership. This is a great way to promote your business to other member businesses and their employees. The offers are prominently posted on our website with links in our weekly e-newsletter.
A growing membership benefits all Chamber members, so that's why we offer a New Member Referral Program. Current Chamber members can refer new businesses to the Chamber. A referral is a business or repeat member (who has not been a member for more than a year) that joins the Chamber as a direct result of a current member's efforts to solicit their membership.
For every new business membership generated from your lead, you will receive a $25 credit that can be used for upcoming Chamber events. To refer a business for membership, simply have the applying business fill out our Membership Application or online Membership Application and enter your name in the "Referred By" line.
Partner with other Chambers
The Bethlehem Chamber plans networking and partnership opportunities with other area chambers of commerce, not only offering our members the opportunity to promote their business in Bethlehem and throughout the Capital District.
Media Coverage
The Chamber also shares business information packages with Channel 13 News in the "Upstate of Business" segment featured in the evening and sometimes morning news. These packages include photos, videos and a script about an issue or news businesses want to share with the region.
These segments are generally 2-3 minutes in length.
Contact us if you have an issue, milestone anniversary, or other business news and we can assist with creating the package and getting it to Channel 13.
The Chamber assists new or existing businesses with grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies. We are able to help you celebrate achievements such as milestone anniversaries, remodels/expansions, moving to a new location, and ownership changes.
Chamber representatives will contact local dignitaries, invite community members, attend with ceremonial scissors and ribbon for the official ceremony and will coordinate the promotion of the event.
Members receive a 12-month complimentary subscription as an active member of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce. The Bethlehem Spotlight edition covers news in Bethlehem, New Scotland & Guilderland.
Members of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce receive a window sticker and member certificate to display at their business, a message to their customers that they are a respected business that supports their community and their community chamber of commerce.
When consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it and 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future (The Schapiro Group and Market St Study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives with support from Small Business Network, Inc.).