Joining local business associations can provide small business owners with benefits, opportunities, and financial assistance. Membership offers networking through online and in-person events, marketing assistance and shared advertising costs. Local chambers of commerce provide advertising, discounts, insurance programs, and special event participation. Associations also connect members to funding sources like SBA loans and grants, and mentoring through SCORE.

1. Joining Local Business Associations
Briana Yost

2. Introduction
• Thesis Statement
▫ Joining a local business association as a small
business owner can show the way to being
provided with benefits, exclusive
opportunities, and financial help.

3. Benefits
• Networking
• Marketing and Advertising
• Local Chamber of Commerce (COC)

4. Networking
• Online social networking
▫ Presented on a local association’s website
▫ Facebook
▫ Twitter
• Face-to-face social networking
▫ Annual meetings

5. Marketing and Advertising
• Marketing consultant
▫ Ways to promote business
• Advertising through Association
▫ Shared advertising costs

6. Local Chamber of Commerce
• Description
▫ What is a Local Chamber of Commerce?
 Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Benefits
▫ Advertising and marketing
 Business referrals
▫ Discounts
 Electricity, natural gas savings
 Office supplies and furniture
▫ Insurance
 Health, voluntary, and business insurance
▫ Programs
 Merchant/Credit card processing, print-to-digital publishing

7. Opportunities
• Special events
• Volunteer work
• Public relations

8. Special Events
• Participation
▫ Networking
▫ Free advertising
• Sponsorship
▫ Paid advertising throughout entire event

9. Volunteer Work
• Networking
▫ Community association
▫ Meeting potential customers
• Affiliations
▫ Word of mouth promotion

10. Public Relations
• Media outlets
▫ Internet-based advertising
• Public relations consultant
▫ Business promotions
 Individual exposure

11. Finances
• Funding
• Small Business Association
• SCORE

12. Funding
• Loans
▫ Local business association help
 SBA loans
 Starting/expanding loans and special purpose loans
• Grants
▫ SBA
 Funded by tax dollars
 Given to specialized businesses
▫ Both federal and state

13. Small Business Administration
• Description
▫ What is the SBA?
▫ What does it do for small businesses?
• Managing finances
▫ Loans and grants

14. SCORE
• Description
▫ Offered through the SBA
▫ Background information about SCORE
• Mentors
▫ Business resources

15. Works Cited
• Callahan, Sheila. "Joining Local Business Organizations." (2012).
• DBA. Become a Member. 2012. <http://www.downtownbethlehemassociation.com/become-a-member>.
• —. Membership Privileges. 2012. <http://www.downtownbethlehemassociation.com/become-a-
member/membership-privileges>.
• McLoone, Sharon. "Small Business: Are Association Memberships Worth it?" (2009): 1-2.
• SBA. Grants. 2012. 28 March 2012 <http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-
managing-business/starting-business/loans-grants-funding/grants>.
• —. SBA Loans. 2012. 28 March 2012 <http://www.sba.gov/content/sba-loans>.
• —. What We Do. 2012. 28 March 2012 <http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/what-we-do>.
• Schick, Cynthia L. Finances: A Common Danger Among Small Businesses, Says AdviCoach. February
2012. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_201202/ai_n58569765/?tag=content;col1>.
• Schwartz, Samantha. Downtown Bethlehem Association Manager Briana Yost. 19 March 2012.
• Shalini Karnan. "Answers to Common Questions about SCORE." (2012).
• The Chamber. "Exclusive Corporate and Personal Benefits." 2010. The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of
Commerce. 28 March 2012 <http://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/chamber-information/membership-
kit.aspx>.
• —. "Member Marketing Opportunities." 2010. The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. 28
March 2012 <http://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/chamber-information/membership-kit.aspx>.
• —. "Thank you for your interest." 2012. The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. 28 March
2012 <http://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/chamber-information/membership-kit.aspx>.
• Ward, Susan. "Join Business Organizations." (2012).