Staff Report
Region – One of the most influential chambers in the Central Mass. region recently revealed an updated brand that includes a name change. On Nov. 29, the Board of Directors of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce voted to rebrand and change its name to the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The redesigned logo and updated brand were developed to reflect the chamber’s growing membership and footprint as a regional organization.
“Our member businesses hail from 63 towns and cities from Central Massachusetts, and 45 percent of our membership comes from businesses operating outside our core towns of Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, Shrewsbury and Grafton,” said Karen Chapman, president and CEO of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s central location at the intersections of the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), I-495 and Route 9, is well-known as a highly desirable destination for business development. The chamber’s membership represents a wide range of small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, high technology manufacturing, cutting-edge healthcare companies, nonprofits, restaurants, hotels, service companies from Class A office parks, and mixed-use commercial developments.
“This is not about abandoning our name or our roots with the core communities that our chamber will continue to serve and represent. The chamber’s leadership believed it was time to align our name and branding as a regional organization that accurately reflects who we are, and our ability to attract a growing constituency of businesses that want to be part of our organization,” stated Mary Simone, chair of the board of the newly named chamber, and General Manager of the Marlborough Courtyard by Marriott.
Along with unveiling its new name and logo, the chamber will be launching a new website in late January. The new website will feature a responsive design and a user-friendly experience providing ease of access to key information, tools, and resources.
The Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce currently has over 550 member businesses. Its benefits include over 70 programs and events per year designed to develop business connections. The group’s active program schedule also includes free educational workshops for professional and business development, access to custom designed business groups (a women’s networking group as well as a young professionals networking group), business support services, and governmental advocacy work that supports business-friendly legislation.
For additional information about the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce visit www.corridornine.org.