100 YEAR OLD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 37 YEAR OLD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS MERGE IN NILES

By DEBRA HAIGHT

BCR Correspondent

NILES – The merger of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce could be the wave of the future for area community organizations. The two organizations merged Jan. 1 to become the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce.

Last week, Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce Director Carol Carroll said the SMEGA-Four Flags merger didn’t come as much of a surprise. The two organizations had been talking for a year and merging has been the trend regionally and nationally.

“There’s a real trend here and nationally for chambers to become more regional,” she said. “Everyone is looking at their options … People are saying they want to stay local but they also need to look beyond.”

She said that there’s been talk but little else when it comes to the Buchanan chamber merging with another organization. She said any possible merger would be discussed first with chamber members to get their input.

Meanwhile, she doesn’t think the SMEGA-Four Flags merger will have that much effect on the Buchanan chamber.

“We have some overlap but we have different members and a different focus,” Carroll said. “We go into the wineries besides the downtown businesses and manufacturing. We have tremendous volunteerism and a strong chamber.”

SMEGA and the Four Flags chamber have deep roots in the Niles area. The chamber dates back to 1919 in serving local businesses and promoting community development, while SMEGA was formed in 1982 with the goal of retaining and attracting businesses after a number of large companies closed or moved.

The new Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce board has members from both former organizations, including area government, business and school officials. The staff of the new organization includes Jeff Rea as president and CEO, Barkley Garrett as director of economic development and Eileen Villanueva as membership coordinator.

Lake Michigan College Vice President Barbara Craig is the co-chair of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. “The missions of both organizations are similar, and the Boards of Directors have determined that together we’ll be able to more efficiently deliver a high level of service to our customers and our community,” she said.

Horizon Bank Market President David Eifler is chairman of the SMEGA board. “Though both organizations performed slightly different functions, they shared a vision of being a catalyst for economic growth in the greater Niles area,” he said. “Now, together, we’ll be better positioned to raise the profile of our area, which in turn will drive new economic activity.”

Garrett, who had been the SMEGA director, said merging the two organizations means they will be able to give an enhanced level of services. “We will be giving our businesses and our community partners a one stop shop for all of their business and economic development needs,” he said.

He said the new Greater Niles Chamber will continue to work with other regional organizations to promote the Michiana area, whether that will be with other area chambers or with organizations like the Strategic Leadership Council based in the Twin Cities area. He noted that Eifler is the co-chair of both the chamber and the leadership council.

Joint efforts will continue in the future, Garrett said, including networking and programming events and general recruitment of businesses and companies to Southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. Organizations work collaboratively now and will continue to do so, he said.

The Greater Niles Chamber offices will be located in the former SMEGA office space in the Niles City Hall, 333 North Second St. The former chamber offices in the historic Carnegie Library at Fourth and Main Streets will be vacated and a new use will be sought for that building.

Although called the Greater Niles Chamber, the organization will in fact serve a larger area including Buchanan, Galien, Three Oaks and Cass County.

In a press release from the new organization, officials stated they chose to contract with the South Bend chamber for a number of reasons. The South Bend chamber is a five-star accredited chamber, is a joint economic development and chamber organization and can provide a variety of resources.

The press release also noted the “great synergies” between the Niles and South Bend areas as both are part of the larger metropolitan area. Both areas rely on employees, customers and suppliers from both sides of the state line.