Information
and
Procedures for Joining
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce is affiliated with the U.S. Chamber, Maryland Chamber and its Chamber Action Network. In addition to the satisfaction of being a part of the community's leading business association and the chance to help mold the future of our area, there are many benefits offered to our members. A listing of benefits of these can be found below, in addition to membership criteria and a schedule of membership fees and an online application.
Programs to Help Members Do Business
- Networking Opportunities - Attend Chamber events like Business After Hours, General Membership Luncheons and Committee Meetings to meet and share with other members. Members are encouraged to do business with other members. Chamber contacts will become your best source of new customers and increased sales.
- Relocating Spouse Assistance - a relocation spouse job referral service will assist a member company to accept a position in our area. The company will obtain information on the skills and desires of the perspective employee's spouse. The Chamber staff will assist the spouse in finding potential employers with the assistance of the member temporary employment or staffing agencies.
- Training Programs - The Chamber works with a variety of organizations and individuals to develop seminars and employee training classes that help member companies develop a skilled work force.
- Free Notary Service - Available at the Chamber office.
- Referrals - The Chamber receives dozens of calls a week from consumers (both local and travelers to our area) looking for providers or goods and services.
- Membership directory - A complete alphabetical and categorical listing of member firms to encourage member-to-member purchasing. No charge to members. $30 for non-members.
- Membership on labels and disks - Mailing labels of the membership are available to help target your products and services through direct mail; $30 for members, $60 for non-members. A disk is available for $60 to members and $90 to non-members.
- Export Assistance - The Chamber provides the required authentication for the origin of export shipment paperwork for member firms. The Chamber also maintains export information to assist members in global trade.
- Inquiry list - A list of potential newcomers' names and addresses requesting information from the Chamber is provided monthly to member subscribers. The yearly fee is $60.
- Salisbury and Wicomico County maps - $3.00 each or $2.50 each for quantities of 25 or more.
- Regional Information Packets - Relocation packets are designed to provide demographics and general information vital to new businesses, employees, or residents to the area. Available at $4.00 each for third party distribution.
- Regional Chamber Newsletter - The monthly Business Journal offers vital information on commercial enterprises on the Lower Shore with business advertising opportunities at special member rates.
- Internet presence - Opportunities to advertise on this website.
Workforce Development Programs
- Honor Student Discount Program -Honor roll students receive discounts from Chamber member merchants and retailers. Rewards local students for excellence and helps bring members additional customers.
- Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System (ACES) - Teacher in-service seminars, hosted by area businesses, provide a dialogue experience between educators and the business community. Your chance to influence the quality of tomorrow's workforce.
- Career Connections - State program to place high school students in a work environment to help them develop work ethics and understand business. Improves the quality of the future workforce ad gives you a look at potential employees.
Quality of Life Programs
- Salisbury Festival - Community festival held the first weekend in May.
- Beautification Projects - Designed to enhance and improve Salisbury's visual image through construction and maintenance of selected beautification sites. Customers and potential new employees are drawn to nice places to live and work.
Improving the Business Climate on the Lower Shore
- Economic Forecast - An annual forum that provides an insight into economic conditions, particularly on the Delmarva Peninsula.
- Forums for Professional Groups - Provide a vehicle for business people from particular segments of the community to share information and experiences, i.e. retailers; architects, engineers, surveyors, human resources, public relations, and marketing professionals.
- Lobbying Efforts - Provide business "point of view"
on local, state, and regional issues. Work with the Eastern
Shore Delegation on major regional programs, like One Maryland
and the Regional Transportation Forum. You are too busy to
monitor all of the programs, legislation and regulations that
local, state and federal governments are contemplating, so we
do. The more businesses and voters we represent, the bigger our
impact.
Membership is open to all companies or organizations who do business on the Eastern Shore. The company is the member. The business selects a person to be the point of contact (Representative) with the Chamber. Chamber mailings will be sent to that individual to share with the rest of the organization.
Other special categories of membership are:
Retiree Membership - is for individuals who were active in the Chamber as part of a member company. These individuals are allowed to join as retired members at a reduced rate, so they may continue to be involved in the Chamber after retiring from the company. Retiree membership dues are $50 per year.
Individual Membership - allows an individual who supports the goals and objectives of the Chamber, but does not belong to a company authorized membership, to join. This program is not to allow an individual to join rather than his/her company. Individual membership dues are $195 per year.
Associate Membership - is for a company which wants to have additional individuals in their organization to get the mailings. All company employees are allowed to participate in Chamber meetings and activities. The membership category covers the cost of mailings to additional people within a company. Associate membership cost $75 per year per person.
Membership Investment Schedule
The Standard Dues Rate, which is based on the number of employees,
allows one voting member, who receives mailings.
Part-time employees count as .5 for dues calculations.
The amounts below have had the 10% new member/on-time
payment discount applied. These dues will be charged annually
according to the month you joined.
| 1 – 2 employees | $195 |
| 3 – 5 employees | $255 |
| 6 – 50 employees | $255 + $5/ employee |
| 51 – 100 employees | $480 + $3/ employee |
| 101 or more | $630 + $1/ employee |
|
Associate Member (Additional voting member with separate mailing. Allows a large company, or one with multiple locations, to insure the Chamber information is getting to the right people.) |
$75 |
Special Category Dues
| Corporate/Multi Business | $195 base + $75/Business + total number of employees |
| Non-profit & not for profit organizations | Lower of standard dues above or $255 x 2.5 |
| Hotel/Motel/Bed & Breakfast | $255 + $2 per # of rooms over 10 |
| Shopping Centers | Higher of $255 or $1 per 1,000 square feet of retail space |
| Retired Chamber Member | $50 |
| Individuals not part of a company or organization authorized membership | $195 |
For
membership calculations, part-time employees are counted as a half.