Vermont Business Magazine For the past 12 years, the organization working to promote St. Johnsbury as a destination, to support its business community, and to develop its cultural vitality has been called the St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce. The organization announced last week in a letter to the St. Johnsbury business community that it will be known under a different name going forward.
Discover St Johnsbury will become the outward-facing name for an organization that is officially incorporated as St Johnsbury Works! Inc., with the additional trade name St Johnsbury Business Alliance used for internal organizational purposes.
St Johnsbury Works! Inc. was incorporated in 2002 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit to serve as the Town of St Johnsbury’s designated downtown organization. Its mission then was similar to the one it still holds today: to “stimulate and promote the vitality of downtown St. Johnsbury’s cultural, commercial, and community resources”.
In 2010, the organization announced the adoption of the trade name St Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce, although it retained the same legal name, organizational structure, and mission as before.
The reasons for the change at that time were multi-faceted, but in part represented a desire to be seen as a resource for St. Johnsbury’s entire business community, not just those within the downtown.
Over more than a decade, the title of St Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce served the organization well, but in recent years, it started to feel out of alignment with the organization’s inclusive approach.
For example, unlike a traditional chamber of commerce, the organization does not require membership for a business to be listed on promotions or to participate in programming.
“Chambers of commerce do great things in the communities that they serve.” says Gillian Sewake, Director of Discover St. Johnsbury. “But, there are legal and structural reasons why chambers require memberships in order to receive benefits, which we aren’t restricted by. We wanted to clarify that point, and to explain why we take part in activities that support community vitality, as well as those with an economic development purpose. Our mission isn’t just about commerce, it’s about culture & community as well.”
Sewake adds, “Plus, our area already has a strong regional chamber, the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.”
Discover St Johnsbury is hosting an open house for members of the St Johnsbury business community on Tuesday, February 7 from 4pm - 6pm at the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, 51 Depot Square.
In addition to serving as a networking mixer for those who work in St Johnsbury, there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the name change.
For more information, email [email protected].
Since 2002, Discover St Johnsbury (previously known as the St Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce) has stimulated and promoted the vitality of St Johnsbury’s cultural, commercial, and community resources through destination marketing, producing community events, support for local businesses, and other economic and community development activities. The organization combines the commercial goals of a business alliance with the structure of a designated downtown organization. www.DiscoverStJohnsbury.com
1.23.2023. St Johnsbury, Vermont - www.DiscoverStJohnsbury.com
