Member Benefits at a Glance

Networking Opportunities

Networking is essential to business success. Through the interaction with other community business people, you make contacts, expand knowledge and better understand opportunities in the region. Our Chamber holds at least one major event a month, many of which are "Business After Hours" - gatherings hosted by Chamber members and free to attend. Events include: Annual Dinner Meeting, Annual Spring Luncheon, Annual Golf Tournament, a Legislative Breakfast and our Charlottesville Area Business Expo.

The Chamber's Web Site (cvillechamber.com)

Our Chamber website is a substantial, valuable, key communications link. Our Chamber website - cvillechamber.com -- boasts "total hits" of more than 3.2 million a year. By November 2002 our website traffic was running at more than 252,000 "page-view hits" a year - an average of more than 21,000 page view hits a month - 690 hits each day - an increase of 15% over last year and more than 66% since its redesign in November 2000.

Importantly for Chamber businesses and organizations, those 21,000 monthly page view hits result in over 61,000 visitor "views" of selected Chamber member listings each month. Each month just about 3,100 of those hits produce customers clicking through a specific Chamber member hot-link.

Customer Referrals

"Chamber of Commerce" is one of the most widely recognized brands in the world. Visitors, newcomers, businesses and current residents contact our Chamber on a daily basis for information on area businesses (they are looking for YOUR business!) - our office averages 1000 phones calls a month, over 400 emails a month, and over 100 people walking in a month all looking for information on services and businesses in the Charlottesville region.

Communications: Chamber Quarterly Report and Chamber Bits E-Briefing

Our Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce provides you with vital regional business news on a weekly basis through our award-winning e-mail newsletter, "Chamber Bits," and on a quarterly basis via our printed newsletter "Chamber Quarterly Report." Chamber member businesses can also utilize these communication tools to promote their business through free announcements on events, people, accomplishments and changes. Advertising space is also available. "Chamber Bits" is read weekly by more than 2,000 recipients. "Chamber Quarterly Report" is a targeted publication reaching more than 2,000 area professionals.

Direct Mailing: Member Connections

Visibility is vital to business success! Member Connections is a monthly mailing managed by the Chamber and delivered to the Chamber mailing list, over 2000 business professionals. You provide 2,200 flyers and the Chamber takes care of the rest for the small fee of $150!

This is not a comprehensive list of Chamber Member Benefits. For more information on taking advantage of your Chamber membership, call (434) 295-3141. Chamber also holds a "member orientation" on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:45 AM, at the Chamber office.

Chamber Gift Certificate Program:

Driving Dollars to Your Business

Area consumers and businesses can order local Charlottesville Chamber Member Gift Certificates and spend their consumer dollars in our regional economy. Employers giving employee gifts and incentives, holiday and celebration gift-givers, or just plain shoppers can purchase the gift certificates through cvillechamber.com, our Chamber web site, by calling 877.770.GIFT toll free, by fax order forms, and at our Chamber office.

Along with the order for Chamber Gift Certificates comes a list of over 300 Chamber Member Businesses (Your Business!) that accept Chamber Gift Certificates.

Participating Chamber Member Businesses get their money fast. The Charlottesville Chamber Gift Certificate "processes like a check." The Member business simply deposits it - It's that simple.

Targeted Membership Lists

The Chamber's mailing list reaches over 2,000 business professionals and is continually updated. This list, along with a "newcomers list," averaging close to 100 individuals a month, is available to chamber members at discounted rates.

10% Discount on PVCC Workforce Development Courses

Only for Chamber Member Businesses! A discount of ten percent (10%) will be applied to the published fee for all PVCC non-credit courses for each individual enrolling in an open enrollment course or ten percent (10%) of the total fee for a PVCC customized course. The course tuition must be paid directly to PVCC by a Chamber member business or organization and not by the employee taking the course.

Value-Added Health Benefits

Our Chamber has joined with Anthem (coordinated through our Chamber member insurance brokers) to offer our member enterprises enhanced health benefits and other association benefits. In conjunction with your membership in our Chamber, the following benefits are offered through Anthem: Group Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Dependent Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, and the Employee Assistance Program. The Anthem benefits are offered with no medical underwriting; employees do not have to fill our medical questionaires. As an Anthem policy holder and Chamber member, you may also be entitled to preventive and wellness screenings at no charge, and supplemental accident coverage ($759 per incident).

Exclusive Discounts through EMBARQ

* EMBARQ Complete Business Bundle: EMBARQ Business-Class DSL 3.0 Mbps, Unlimited local and domestic long distance service, Security and Productivity Applications, Ranging from $99 to $115 per month, you receive a $35 service credit per month for the first three months as your Chamber discount.

*EMBARQ Business Class DSL: Free professional installation, free activation and free router -- a $300 value -- plus two months free with your Chamber discounts on 1.5 Mbps plan or higher.

*EMBARQ Build Your Own Bundle: Purchase EMBARQ local and long distance and your Chamber discount gives you two free months of EMBARQ Business-Class DSL. The more services you buy, the more you can save.

UVA Football Season Passes - Discount

The best possible price around for some of the best seats in town!

HRWorX - Newhireonline

Business owners know how costly bringing new employees aboard can be. HRWorX would like to help eliminate much of the cost associated with this necessary part of running a business with its Newhireonline automated onboarding system. To get Chamber members started with saving valuable time and money, HRWorX is offering a free consultation as well as five free transactions. For more details, please call 434-220-4658, ext. 18 or e-mail tnunes@imcva.com.

Positive Solutions Group

Conflicts in business take valuable time while lowering productivity and raising costs. A 2005 Chamber member survey noted that a high percentage of Chamber members were interested in learning more about and utilizing a business mediation service. Positive Solutions Group, LLC, comprised of experienced business mediators, can assist organizations and individuals to facilitate agreement, successfully resolve conflict, and develop and utilize conflict prevention strategies. This exclusive referral service is discounted to Chamber member enterprises.

PrintSource Discount

PrintSource offers 10 percent off Copy and Print Services to Chamber members and 15 percent off Copy and Print Services to Chamber members for Member Connections inserts. Chamber members must mention the discount at the time of the order. Please call 975-3000 for program details.

Bright Beginnings Pre-School

Bright Beginnings Pre-School offers a discount on pre-school cost at any of its three locations in Greater Charlottesville. You may request an updated price list from the Chamber of Commerce or Bright Beginnings.

Huntington Learning Center

The Huntington Learning Center offers $100 off a Diagnostic Assessment for Chamber members and their families. Huntington offers standard tutoring, one-on-one tutoring and SAT preparatory classes. Please call 434-978-4603 for details.

University of Virginia Art Museum

The University of Virginia Art Museum offers a 10 percent discount on any level of membership for both Chamber enterprises and their employees. Please contact the membership director at 434-243-8874 for program details.