What is a Chamber of Commerce?

A Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary federation of the business community. It unites the efforts of business and professionals to ensure that the entire community realizes a healthy economic and socio-economic benefit.
The Chamber of Commerce harnesses the tremendous potential of the private enterprise system and enables its membership to accomplish collectively what no one person or group could accomplish individually.
The Chamber is the voice of Business.

What does a Chamber of Commerce do?

The Chamber represents and promotes the area’s economy through various shop local initiatives. It encourages business and industrial investment in ways such as networking and seminars.

Chambers of Commerce are increasingly involved in non-commercial areas such as education, human relations, environmental, cultural and governmental concerns. Chambers of Commerce influence federal, provincial, and municipal legislation affecting business.
These challenges have encouraged Chambers to become a viable force in seeking solutions to today's social problems.

Why join a Chamber of Commerce?

The Chamber of Commerce is the salesperson for its community and businesses. Chambers unceasingly promote their communities' products and services while at the same time being their watchdog. This results in Chambers protecting their interests, particularly in the political arena. The united voice of the Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce has often proven effective and beneficial to business where a single voice can go unheard.
The benefits of belonging to the Chamber is full-time representation with year-round results.

How can I join the Chamber?

Joining the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce is easy. Simply click on the membership application button to view information including a complete summary of the cost for an investment in membership.

Who finances a Chamber of Commerce?

The Chamber is a business and incurs costs in conducting its operation as in any other type of organization. These expenses are met primarily through membership fees derived from its numerous members. Members share a mutual desire to achieve a better community for all its citizens. Membership in the Chamber is an investment in the present and future welfare of both the individuals and their community.

How can I find out who else is a member of the Chamber?

Our Membership Directory is published each year containing names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, website addresses, and contact names of all of the members for the current membership year. A listing in the Membership Directory will help increase your profile as well.

What are the Benefits of becoming a Chamber Member?

As a member of the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce, you belong to an organization dedicated to the business community in Portage la Prairie. You gain access to many benefits that promote your business, save your company money and recover the cost of your membership many times over.

Indirect Benefits

Stay Connected: Chamber membership allows you to stay connected with the business community in Portage la Prairie. Our active schedule of meetings, training seminars, networking luncheons and events helps you keep in touch with peers, keep current on affairs affecting business and provides you an opportunity to increase your contacts and build your business. As a Chamber member you receive reduced prices for all Chamber functions such as networking Quarterly Luncheons and Business Training Seminars.

Your Business Voice: The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce continually works together with the City of Portage la Prairie and local organizations to support our business community, but if the interests of business are compromised in our community, we don't hesitate to speak out on your behalf. As a Chamber member, your voice wil be heard at all levels of government and we will lobby on your behalf to present your views and concerns on legislation, taxes, employment, industry, safety, education, transportation and various other issues.

A Helping Hand: The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce is a central point of contact for communication with the local business community. We can assist you through researching and providing business information and by faxing publications, letters, bulletins, and flyers to your market area.

Direct Benefits

The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce through our association with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce offers the following affinity programs to reduce our members' cost of doing business:

 - Free listing in the Chamber's Annual Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide
 - Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plans
 - Preferred Visa and MasterCard Discount Merchant Rates
 - MTS Discounts on Long Distance, AAA Alarms and Wireless POS Service
 - Enterprise Rent-a-car-Rental Vehicle Discount Rates
 - Esso Business Account Direct Driver Billing
 - Power Pay Discount Payroll Service

For more information on these benefits, please call Cindy at the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce office at: 857-7778.