Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce is
 the first chamber in Georgia to receive 5-Star rating.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation.
 Of the 6,936 chambers in the U.S., only 310 are accredited.

  • These elite chambers represent the top 5% of all chambers in the U.S.
  • Only 13 have been accredited for 35 continuous years like the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
  • Only 27 (9%) have received 5-Stars.

Columbus is the first chamber in Georgia to receive a 5-Star rating

“Accreditation is one of the highest honors bestowed on local chambers fighting for pro-growth and jobs policies at the federal, state, and local level,” said Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. “We are proud to recognize the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce and its members for helping to advance the principles of free enterprise – the bedrock of this prestigious award.”

Phil Tomlinson, 2006 chair, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, praised the chamber for being the only 5-Star chamber in Georgia.

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including: governance, government affairs, and technology. For local chambers the final rating, Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars, depends on the chamber’s ability to successfully meet additional criteria, including: accountability, financial transparency, employee involvement, political advocacy, and community involvement. The accrediting board, a panel of U.S. Chamber board members, votes on the final accreditation.

The Accreditation Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the only one of its kind to monitor the dynamic chamber of commerce industry. Rolled out in 1964, the Accreditation Program was developed by a team of chamber executives and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for continuous improvement of local chambers of commerce.

“This process began months ago,” said Richard Anthony, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Task Force. “Our staff worked side by side with business men and women who were volunteering a tremendous amount of time and energy focused only on one thing… a 5-Star rating. Accreditation means that our chamber is recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one offering quality programs, practicing sound organization procedures and reliably contributing to positive change in the community.”