WASHINGTON, D.C. - During its spring board meeting last week in Washington, DC, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce proudly awarded the Accreditation designation to 12 chambers of commerce, recognizing their sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and significant contributions to their communities.

"Earning the Accreditation designation is a testament to a chamber's unwavering dedication to excellence and its pivotal role in fostering a thriving business environment," said Raymond P. Towle, U.S. Chamber Vice President, Federation Relations and IOM. "This achievement highlights the chamber's commitment to strong leadership, innovative programming, and meaningful contributions that drive economic growth and opportunity within their communities. It is a well-deserved recognition of their outstanding efforts to support and empower local businesses."

The U.S. Chamber's Accreditation Program is designed to promote and sustain excellence within the chamber industry while advancing a pro-business environment nationwide. To achieve Accreditation, chambers must meet rigorous standards across various operational and programmatic areas, including governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, communications, and technology. This comprehensive self-assessment process typically spans 6-9 months.

Chambers are evaluated and rated as "Accredited," "Accredited with 3 Stars," "Accredited with 4 Stars," or "Accredited with 5 Stars" for local and regional chambers. State chambers of commerce are recognized as either "Accredited State Chamber" or "Accredited State Chamber with Distinction." The final determination is made by the Accrediting board, which includes U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board members and chamber of commerce CEOs from across the nation.

The following chambers of commerce have earned this distinguished Accreditation designation:

Accredited with 4 Stars

• Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce (Wilmington, DE)

• Fayette Chamber of Commerce (Fayetteville, GA)

• Midland Chamber of Commerce (Midland, TX)

• Minot Area Chamber EDC (Minot, ND)

• Quad Cities Chamber (Davenport, IA)

Accredited with 5 Stars

• Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce (Brunswick, GA)

• Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (Dayton, OH)

• Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce (Arlington, TX)

• Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce (Houma, LA)

• McAllen Chamber of Commerce (McAllen, TX)

• Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (Myrtle Beach, SC)

• Southaven Chamber of Commerce (Southaven, MS)