The Surrey Board of Trade is joining forces with the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce.
The boards of directors for the two chambers of commerce have agreed to amalgamate into one organization.
The new entity will be called the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade. The amalgamation was approved unanimously by all boards of directors, the chambers say in a joint news release.
“Both organizations have similar values and a long-standing commitment to serving the business community,” the chambers said. “Together, there is significant room to create organizational efficiencies and strengthen the value they bring to members and the business community at large.”
Benefits of the merger include cost savings for members, some of whom belong to both the Surrey Board of Trade and the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce. They will now have just one membership fee.
The amalgamating groups also says the merger into one entity will give them “more substantial influence and collective voice on local, provincial, and national matters related to business, economic development planning, and international trade.”
The Surrey Board of Trade represents more than 3,400 members. The South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce has just 500 members.
"There's some synergy that could be brought to play and it seemed to make sense to add value to the membership of both organizations," Bill Brooks, president of the South Surrey and White Roack Chamber of Commerce, said of the amalgamation. "We just see it as a good use of resources and administration."
(This story has been updated. It originally stated the Surrey Board of Trade has 6,000 members. It actually has 3,400 members and 6,000 member contacts.)
