The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community. This honor places The Chamber among the top 4 percent of chambers nationwide. Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, 269 of these are accredited. Of those, just 43 have the 5-Star distinction (16 percent).

“Accreditation recognizes chambers for their high standards of practice, full accountability to members and steadfast commitment to community,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud these organizations for advancing these principles of free enterprise.”

Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs and technology.

“This past year, staff and volunteer board members of The Chamber spent more than six months completing the Accreditation process. Our task: demonstrate competency in nine core areas, ranging from finance to facilities,” said Paul R. Laskowski, interim president, The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County. “The result of all of this hard work is evidenced by this outstanding rating and prestigious distinction. We are extraordinarily proud of this milestone achievement.”

Local chambers are rated: Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars or 5-Stars. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.