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By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce is now one of only 14 chambers across the state of Alabama that has received the Accredited Alabama Chamber of Commerce distinction (AACC).

The Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) awarded the Chilton Chamber the award during the organization’s annual convention in Gulf Shores.

“It’s a real honor to receive this,” said Chamber director Francine Wasden. “It took a lot of hard work, and I’d like to commend our board members and staff for helping us to get there.”

According to a release from the CCAA, “the Accredited Alabama Chamber of Commerce program sets standards of excellence for chambers in the State of Alabama. It recognizes chambers that have achieved those standards while offering guidelines for those to improve their effectiveness.

“The Accredited Alabama Chamber of Commerce program is designed to promote public awareness of the intent of the chamber of commerce brand as a not-for-profit community development- based business membership organization by providing a peer review process of generally accepted chamber of commerce organizational benchmarks.”

Six different standards are taken into account when a chamber seeks this accreditation: organization, mission focus, professional administration, financial management, communications and advocacy.

“As one of CCAA’s most prestigious programs, the Accredited Alabama Chamber of Commerce program shows that each chamber receiving the distinction is committed to the highest standards of organization management. This distinction recognizes local chambers of commerce in Alabama that strengthen free enterprise by protecting their local business environment,” said Heather Brothers New, President of The Chamber, Gadsden and Etowah County and the CCAA’s 2019 Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. “They most certainly represent the highest standards in our profession.”

Jeremy L. Arthur, President and CEO of the CCAA, said the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce is a true testament to the chamber profession.

“The accreditation process is very rigorous and highlights that each chamber is truly the ‘best of the best’ across our state,” Arthur said. “The commitment shown by each local chamber that receives the Accredited Alabama Chamber of Commerce distinction shows their continued commitment to the highest professional standards and assures their business members they are investing in an organization working on their behalf for the greater good.”

Wasden said she is proud of the work the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce has done and the direction the organization has taken since she took over as director.