Mission :

The Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce — a membership-driven association — shall serve as a catalyst for business development in the greater Aurora area.

Our History :

Perhaps as long as commerce has existed, businesspeople have banded together. In the beginning, the purpose was to seek common protection against enemies and raiding bands of robbers. Later, codes were established to govern the conduct of trade. And still later, efforts were begun to exert influence on legislative matters.The first Chamber of Commerce in America was the Chamber of Commerce of New York, which was chartered by King George in 1770. The establishment of the New York State Chamber was a result of the unbearable Stamp Tax Act, passed by England’s Parliament in 1765. Forced to organize in self-defense to fight the Act, New York tradesmen quickly perceived the advantages of such an association.

Those early Chambers assumed the role of promoting the sale of goods. They organized markets, made and enforced rules of trade, protected goods in transit, and even operated their own trading floors. But their activities were limited to those directly connected with commerce.Later as businessmen began to realize that their own prosperity depended upon the development of a successful, healthy, and happy community, the emergence of the Chamber as a true community organization came about. From the late 1800s on, the growth of the Chamber movement in the United States was rapid.

In the early 1900s, most local Chambers were primarily interested in attracting new industries to their community. Civic and commercial development took second place. While industrial development remained a major emphasis, gradually, Chambers came to recognize that industrial growth was dependent on civic and commercial development as well. Our Chamber provides countless opportunities to network within the community and build business relationships; to participate in programs, events and activities designed to generate and support commerce within the area; and to become involved in legislative affairs that affect the future of our community, our region, and our state.

Through the dedication and commitment of our membership, we will continue to work together in an effort to build a more prosperous Aurora area.The Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst... through which we who share mutual interests in the business community work together for the benefit of our entire community. A better community means better business.... We are working for a better community for everyone who lives and works here. That’s why we do what we do. There is, finally, one reason for the Chamber of Commerce to exist and that is to do whatever is necessary to keep this area’s economic condition such that business people are willing to risk their resources here in order to make a profit.

In any community, it is from the profitable operation of business that all other benefits are derived. Only by succeeding in this fundamental goal can we provide the jobs and produce the wealth to finance all of the governmental, civic, cultural and charitable needs that our community is faced with everyday. We do a lot of diverse things to accomplish that primary goal.