The Chamber Weekly Blog

Instead of asking only why your business exists, ask a more revealing question: How did you end up here? Your origin story often uncovers the beliefs, values, and experiences that shape how you serve customers today. Discover how understanding your beginning can strengthen your brand, sharpen your marketing, and create an About page that truly sets you apart. Read more

Stop Doing Busywork: 5 Tasks You Can Hand Off This Week Many business owners spend their days keeping things running instead of moving their business forward. The good news? You don’t need to hire a full-time employee to reclaim your time. With AI, automation tools, and affordable support options, many repetitive tasks can be handled faster and more efficiently. Discover five everyday tasks you can stop doing yourself—from writing routine emails to managing schedules and organizing files—so you can focus on the work that truly grows your business. Read more

When you first opened your business, you probably checked a long list of boxes. Business license? Done. Website? Yep. Insurance? Handled. But here’s the thing about your businesses—you’re probably not the same business today as you were when you opened. Not if you’re successful. You’ve had to change, keep up with demand, even possibly pivot. Maybe you added services, hired people, bought equipment, or moved locations. Perhaps you branched out to selling online or hosting events. If you now use contractors/freelancers or store customer information/data, you may be open to bigger risk than when you first started. What started as a simple business has evolved and it has more moving parts than you expected. Hey, growth is good. It means your business is evolving. But it also means the insurance coverage you bought at the beginning may not fully match the business you’re running today. Read more

Here’s What You Need to Know About SBA’s Patriot Pitch Competition The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched the Patriot Pitch Competition as part of its Freedom 250 initiative. It offers a $1 million cash prize pool for innovative small businesses that have used qualifying SBA capital products (such as 7(a), 504, or SBIC financing). Key Details: Deadline: June 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET Businesses must be at least 3 years old, generate $100K+ in annual revenue, be 100% U.S.-owned, and demonstrate innovation. Top entries advance to a live pitch event in Washington, D.C. (Sept 8–18), with five finalists competing. Beyond prize money, participants gain national visibility, networking with investors and leaders, and a chance to sharpen their business story. Applications are submitted via local SBA District Offices. Read more

Unlock More Customers with Referrals Your happiest customers are already talking about you — but most small businesses leave those referrals to chance. Referrals are powerful because they come with built-in trust and deliver warm leads that close easier than ads. You don’t need a big budget or complicated program. Just a few simple habits: Ask right after a great experience Be specific about who to refer Make it easy with a ready-to-share message or QR code Use chamber events for warm introductions Follow up fast and track results Turn happy customers into your best marketing team. One good referral system can bring your next three leads. Read more