Community Corner

A Cinnaminson Business Association?

Not quite, but the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce is stepping in to help set up an alternative.

After trying unsuccessfully for years to establish its own business association, Cinnaminson will get a hand from an organization that’s been promoting economic development for 30 years.

The Burlington County Chamber of Commerce will establish a local chapter—the first of its kind—right here in Cinnaminson to create network opportunities for local businesses and foster growth, explained Chamber president Kristi Howell.

Township officials had approached the Chamber several months ago seeking assistance forming a business association.

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“As redevelopment progressed and we grew our business community, one of the great questions was, ‘Why don’t we have a business association?’” said Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti. “We’ve been trying for the better of the last 10 years to really get one of these business organizations off the ground, and we have not been able to succeed for various reasons.”

Howell said the groundwork required to get a local business association up and running—establishing it as a 501(c)(3), getting attorneys involved, finding members, collecting dues—can be extremely daunting. With the Chamber in charge however, the infrastructure is already in place.

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“The heavy lifting’s already done. We’re insured. We have our 501(c)(3),” Howell explained. “This allows volunteers to really focus on business programming for the community, and not focus on the day-to-day operations or the logistics of putting together an association.”

Essentially it’ll work like this: Cinnaminson businesses that are existing, or future, members of the Burlington County Chamber will pay their dues, and a percentage of those dues will be allocated specifically for the Cinnaminson chapter. The “quasi-independent” organization will have it own budget (based on how many members sign up) that can be put toward things like sponsoring community events, such as Cinnaminson Day.

Besides the general benefits of a Chamber membership (educational workshops, discounts), members of the Cinnaminson chapter will also be able to take advantage of greater visibility (i.e. manning booths at Chamber events) and the opportunity to connect with other local businesses.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of opportunity for goods and services to pass amongst Cinnaminson businesses,” Howell said, adding, “And globally, our footprint goes to Philadelphia; it goes to Cherry Hill and Voorhees, as far north as Lawrenceville. It gives them a great network of businesses.”

Cinnaminson will also be eligible to participate in the county’s “buy local” initiative, “Shop Burlington County First.”

Howell said the Chamber is looking to establish local chapters in other Burlington County towns that don't already have business organizations. Cinnaminson is the first.

Minniti, committee’s liaison to economic development, thanked the Chamber for its willingness to work with the township.

“I’m confident that having a local chapter of an organization with the prestige of the Burlington County Chamber, that’s really going to motivate our business community to get involved,” he said.

Howell concurred, saying, "You should see a rise in support of local community activities once your businesses are pretty well organized."

She said about a dozen Cinnaminson businesses are already Chamber members, and that based on meetings they’ve had, the interest among the business community is strong.

The Chamber will spend the next couple months reaching out to local businesses, and plans to hold an initial meeting of the Cinnaminson chapter in January.

“We want them to be able to do whatever it is they want to do in the community," Howell said. "It promotes them, it promotes us—it’s just good for the community."


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