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A Long-Standing Partnership

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes strong partnerships rooted in trust and a firm belief in a single mission to build a city. For more than 100 years, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Guilford Merchants Association (GMA) have worked together to build a prosperous business community and vibrant quality of life for Greensboro and Guilford County.

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce was established in 1877 as one of the first groups of its kind in the state to work for greater opportunities for the business community. Over its 135-year history, the Chamber has worked as a champion for local businesses while cultivating a more vibrant quality of life. Many local initiatives got their start with Chamber support, like The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, HealthServe Community Health Clinic and the Guilford County Schools’ Teacher Supply Warehouse.

Today, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is a champion of free enterprise, helping businesses grow their profitability in four main ways: by linking them to future customers, connecting them with local resources, providing education and leadership development training, and advocating on their behalf to improve the local business climate. The Chamber is a member of the Greensboro Partnership, united with Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and Action Greensboro to help move our local economy forward.

GMA was established in 1906 as a downtown retail organization and credit reporting body, and has long been recognized as one of the strongest merchants associations in the country. Over the years, the credit bureau division of the organization split off into what is now FirstPoint, Inc. The retail association membership expanded to represent a diverse group of regional industries, including hospitality, consumer services, manufacturing, nonprofit and government. Mr. J. M. Hendrix, the first president of GMA, stated he was most proud of his organization’s efforts in building a spirit of fellowship and friendship among the business people of the city. Today, GMA member services include networking events, training and development programs, business development and educational programs, business crime prevention programs and marketing support.

GMA and the Chamber discovered many years ago that by working together to create change, we can make a significant impact. One of the most significant collaborative initiatives was to join with the Greensboro Jaycees in the 1950s to establish the local Better Business Bureau. The two organizations have also partnered throughout the decades on numerous projects to support local business, such as Buy Local, the recent One Job for Greensboro initiative, downtown redevelopment, and legislative advocacy. Promoting a stellar quality of life for citizens has always been a priority for both organizations. The two organizations frequently come together to produce premier local business events such as Job Expos and Small Business awards programs. To learn more about the membership programs offered by these organizations, visit www.greensborochamber.com and www.mygma.org.


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