A merger first proposed nearly a year ago has finally come to fruition in the Niles community, where the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce will join the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and become the new Greater Niles Area Chamber of Commerce.
The boards of both organizations made the joint announcement today that the two business and economic development agencies will become a single, more efficient and effective organization going forward.
Following separate board meetings of the two business organizations in December of 2017, the two entities agreed to announce the merger to their memberships and to the public today. Both report that organizational and strategic meetings have been ongoing since early 2017 focusing on the new entity’s synergy, funding and the good of the greater community.
Mark Weber sits on both the Four Flags Chamber’s Advisory Board and the Board of Directors at SMEGA. He says today, “We believe this merger is in the interests of both organizations, as well as the economic growth of our region.” Weber, who heads up the YMCA says, “Combining existing business development and the vitality of our chamber membership with the economic development and business attraction and expansion efforts of SMEGA simply makes sense. We are pleased to announce we are in the final stages of negotiating and executing this merger.”
The combined organization will be under the umbrella of a new Greater Niles Area Chamber of Commerce and will have one President and CEO managing both the business development and economic development staff and efforts.
Dave Eifler is Chair of the SMEGA Board. He says, “This merger will provide a more cohesive economic development platform for the greater Niles area. Our goal is to better serve the business community here by working together for the support and retention of local businesses, growth of our existing businesses and the attraction of new business expansions to the greater Niles area.”
The current Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce Co-Chair, Barbara Craig, says her organization’s membership has grown to more than 360 businesses. She points out, “Over the past year and a half we have expanded our services to focus on events that better benefit our membership,” and adds, “Our focus is to become a more viable and valuable business resource.”
Craig, who is from the Lake Michigan College leadership team, reports that chamber programs such as their Google verification campaign for local businesses, the new Community Calendar online, the new Niles Magazine that serves as a membership directory and free Business After Hours and Eye-Opener events have helped local businesses continue to network and thrive.
The Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, is a nonprofit economic development corporation promoting industrial retention and the creation of jobs in the Greater Niles and Buchanan areas. The Greater Niles area encompasses the City of Niles, Niles Township, Bertrand Township, the City of Buchanan, Buchanan Township and Cass County with its primary emphasis on the Greater Niles area.
According to its website, The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce was first established in 1919 and is approaching 100 years of service to area business in 2019. It now serves over 40,000 people in four townships. It is the central professional business agency for the improvement and development of business, industry, and the professions. The nonprofit Chamber exists for community development of industry, trade, civic activities, publicity, and public relations for the greater community.
For more information about the merger or other Chamber happenings, you can contact the Four Flags Area Chamber at 269-683-3720 or visit the chamber online at www.nilesmi.com.
To contact the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, you can call (269) 683-1833 or visit them online at www.southwesternalliance.org.
