On March 11, the PA Chamber of Business and Industry was awarded Accredited with Distinction status from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, based on effective public policy advocacy; dynamic membership relations, education and compliance programs; a successful insurance brokerage and consulting practice and commitment to social responsibility. This is the second time the PA Chamber has received this level of accreditation, which is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement.
“We are honored to receive the coveted Accreditation with Distinction status by the U.S. Chamber,” PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr said in a statement. “As the ‘Statewide Voice of Business,’ our staff strives every day to be a trusted resource for job creators and to promote policies that will allow our private sector and economy to thrive. The past year in particular has put the Commonwealth’s employers to the test and I’m proud of all the work our staff has done to help businesses navigate this challenging time and in creating our ‘Bringing PA Back’ initiative. This recognition is an affirmation of our ongoing dedication to the state’s broad-based business community.”
State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. Currently, only seven state chambers have been awarded accreditation from the U.S. Chamber. Of those seven chambers, four – including the PA Chamber – are accredited with distinction.
In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet a number of standards in their operations and programs – including areas of governance, government affairs and membership – and submit a thorough application to the U.S. Chamber for approval. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete. The PA Chamber first received Accredited with Distinction status in 2015.