Member Benefits

Base membership dues investment is $295 for companies with five or fewer employees. For additional employees, please add $5.00 each. By becoming a Blackstone Valley Chamber member you are automatically a member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce as well. If you are currently a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce and another affiliate but would like to be on the BVCC mailing list as well, you may elect this option for $150 a year. Request an application for membership packet.

You can now apply for Chamber membership or renew your membership online on our secure e-commerce website. To become a member, fill out and submit the Member Application and go to the BVCC Store to pay your membership fee.

Cost of Membership Directory in Excel format or hard copy is $75 for members and $300 for non-members.

Advertise on the Chamber website! Take advantage of the Chamber's quarter million pageviews and reach 50,000 visitors to the Chamber website. Click for info on our Banner Ad Program.

Small Business Medical Benefits for Members (Adobe pdf)
Download the new policy for Certificate of Origin stamping. (MS Word Doc)

Networking Breakfast Club
It's like Business After Hours ---except it's Business Before Hours. You enjoy a hearty breakfast, make some new contacts---and by 9 a.m., you'll be ready for the day ahead! A short program will be held during the meeting at which recognition will be paid to individuals, business firms and other organizations for their recent achievements.

Business After Hours
This informal early evening gathering provides an opportunity for business, regardless of size, to form new associations in the greater Worcester area and enhance those already established. Held quarterly at the host's place of business, Business After Hours affords a relaxed ambiance for business people to meet away from daily pressures.

Valley Focus
Monthly selection in the Blackstone Valley section of the Sunday Telegram & Gazette on the first Sunday of each month. The Valley Focus includes current and upcoming Chamber events plus news regarding chamber programs, members, and information that affects the business community.

Blackstone Valley Home & Business Expo
This annual event, held the first Saturday in March, is the largest display of businesses in the Valley region with companies displaying their products and services to thousands of people from throughout New England. This one-day event is a great success as an estimated 3,000 people visit the expo at Northbridge High School, Whitinsville. The expo features many popular attractions for adults and children alike as well as the always popular crowd pleaser, "Best Chowder in the Valley" contest. With such a wide range of exhibit booths present, there is something for everyone to enjoy or learn about and the event is effective in educating locals as well as newcomers on the variety of great business available in their own backyard.

Export Assistance
The Chamber's Export Committee provides services to help you expand your export markets and can provide State of Origin stamps.

Financial Assistance
Our Economic Development Department is fully prepared to assist you in acquiring capital for expansion, renovation or new construction. We can provide information and assistance in securing Industrial Revenue Bond Financing or Section 504 Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Free Consultations, SCORE
The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a division of the Small Business Administration. Their offices are located in the Worcester Area Chamber and Blackstone Valley offices for free consultation on any business related problem. They are available Monday through Thursday. Call 753 - 2924 to make an appointment to see them.

Free Consultations - SBDC
A senior management counselor from the Small Business Development Center at Clark University, Mr. John Rainey, offers free counseling two Thursdays a month to Valley individuals interested in starting a new business, expanding an existing business, or looking for ways to improve a troubled business. Meetings are by appointment only made through the Chamber office.

Group rates, medical insurance
Group health insurance programs at competitive rates. Choose the Fallon Community Health Plan, Employers Mutual Associated Health Plans, Tufts Associated Health Plans and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. For details, click here.

New England Business Expo
This annual event is the largest display of businesses in the region with hundreds of companies displaying their products and services to thousands of people from throughout New England. The show also features nationally and regionally recognized guest speakers and a number of special business-related events.

Real estate economic development
The economic Development Department, through its Cooperative Marketing Service, has listings of available land and buildings---and can help you find suitable quarters. If your expansion is extensive, we can advise and aid you in all phases of planning, construction and financing.

Small Business Referral Program
Just call the Chamber and ask about the Small Business Referral Service. You will be connected with a member of the Chamber staff who will work with you to determine your needs and put you in contact with our Chamber network of professionals in the following areas: accounting, advertising, computer services, credit/collections, legal, management consulting, and employee assistance programs.

Membership Directory
Your membership entitles you to two free listings in the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce membership directory, which will be updated annually. It gives you invaluable information, serves as a guide for purchasing agents---and is an advertising-supported effort. What better place to show off your product or service.

Your voice for legislation
From taxation to worker and unemployment compensation to medical costs---your Chamber takes an aggressive position on legislative issues through the Public Affairs Department, representing the business community at home as well as on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.

Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a quarterly event of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. It was created by a volunteer and staff committee in 1985 as a forum to recognize individuals, businesses and organizations for various business/community achievements. A typical Breakfast Club meeting attracts over 400 representatives of the business community. It features a hearty buffet breakfast, an opportunity to network and make new business contacts and a one-hour program. The committee prides itself on ensuring that the event that begins at 7:30 a.m., ends promptly by 9:00 a.m. so you can get to the office on time!

Business After Hours
Business After Hours was first hosted by the Chamber of Commerce in 1985. It is held several times during the year, typically 5-7 p.m., at various locations. The September event coincides with the New England Business Expo at Worcester's DCU Center, the Spring event is appropriately held at the New England Flower Show - again at Worcester's DCU Center. A special holiday Business After Hours is held in a festive location; and an early Summer event compliments a host site.

Business Development
The goals and objectives of Business Development is to produce state-of-the-art, cost effective education programs that share the knowledge and experience of business leaders. It gives our members the tools to construct real solutions, create a stronger business community and visionary leaders, and to develop programs that are diverse, innovative and technically competent as we strive to continuously improve our internal processes and systems.

Business Owner's Dialogue
As a Business Owner's Dialogue participant, you benefit from the experiences of other business owners. Small groups gather monthly to discuss the issues that affect their businesses and bring their diverse perspectives and expertise to bear on topics such as sales and marketing, law, accounting, general management, and capital decisions.

eDialog Forum
A forum of e-commerce and IT industry leaders, students and users looking to learn and share information about trends and breakthroughs. eDialog Forum typically meets monthly in the late afternoon. Programs vary and could include a speaker but mostly informal networking and idea sharing. Programs are held at different locations throughout the area or at the Chamber of Commerce. e-Dialog generally attracts about one hundred people per event - and is growing.

Referral Program
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Referral Program was established to give our members more business! Professionals from non-competing industries meet bi-weekly to share qualified referrals. (Referrals are businesses you have a personal connection with and are willing to share this contact with a member of the group.) It is also a great opportunity to network and build relationships. And, perfect for those individuals who need to initiate sales but dislike cold-calling or to just add to your client base.

Leadership Worcester
Leadership Worcester is a community based program designed to meet the needs of our region through informed, committed, and effective leadership. Established in 1980, this well recognized and respected program unites a diverse group of present and potential leaders to study exciting components of today's Worcester. The program prepares and encourages participants to take active roles in their community.

Women's Information Network (WIN)
The Women's Information Network (WIN) of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and it's affiliates, advocates and encourages the endless opportunities available to today's professional woman. The future holds amazing possibilities for female entrepreneurs and executives. It is our goal to bring together enterprising women (of all levels of expertise) through special events and monthly luncheon meetings, that enable us to provide a broader platform within the region for all women in business.

New England Business Expo
Annually the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce presents The New England Business Expo, one of the largest business expos in New England with upwards of 15,000 attendees. With nearly 300 exhibitor booths, this popular and exciting show attracts thousands of people each year. Expos exhibit what's new for your business. Seminars will present timely business topics that will help you and your business to succeed in today's marketplace. Special events are planned throughout the Expo.

Membership Directory
By being a member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce or a member of one of it's Affiliate Chambers, you are entitled to two free listings in the Annual Membership Directory. It gives you references of businesses in the Worcester Region.

Health Insurance/Disability & Life Insurance/Long Term-Care/Dental
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce offers Health Insurance through Aetna, Fallon Community Health Plan, CIGNA Health Care, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, and Employers Mutual. We offer Delta Dental to groups of 2 or more eligible employees. The Chamber also offers Long Term Care through John Hancock and Unum.

Financial Assistance
Our Regional Business Development Department is fully prepared to assist you in identifying and acquiring capital for expansion, renovation or new construction. We can provide information and assistance in securing Industrial revenue Bond Financing or Section 504 Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Regional Business Development
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Regional Business Development Department provides assistance to companies seeking to start-up, expand or relocate their operations in the Worcester Region. Professional staff provides technical assistance including site searches, identification of local, state and federal financial resources and programs, information on tax incentives and available grants, and general project advocacy. The Department offers guidance to businesses and entrepreneurs with respect to municipal development and permitting processes, brownfields remediation, and workforce development, and where appropriate, acts as a conduit for referring those project proponents to the appropriate municipal representatives, agencies and institutions.

Your Voice for Legislative Advocacy
From taxation to worker's compensation and unemployment insurance to medical costs - - your Chamber takes an aggressive position on legislative issues through the Public Affairs Department, representing the business community in the region as well as on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.