​Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award

About the Award
The Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award, which began in 2014, recognizes organization excellence in chambers of commerce and provides a unique benchmarking opportunity to assess a chamber’s strengths. The award is based on the US Chamber of Commerce accreditation process for local chambers and highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership/governance, finance, advocacy and membership development.

The Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award is awarded in two categories - Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award (600 or more members), and Outstanding Chamber of the Year (fewer than 600 members). If applications are received in only one of those categories in a year, then only applicants in that category will be awarded.
 
Eligibility
Members of IACCE in good standing during the year the award is presented are eligible to apply. Once a member chamber has received the award, they must wait seven years to
​be eligible to apply again.

Application Deadline is October 1

Benefits to Applicants
All eligible applicants receive:

• Letter to their Board of Directors recognizing their application
• Listing on the IACCE website and announcement to IACCE members

​Award Recipients will receive:

• A Plaque
• A prepared press release for promotional use
• Recognition at the annual awards meeting​​

Previous Recipients

• 2023 - Berwyn Development Corporation - fewer than 600 members
• 2022
• Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce - greater than 600 members
• DeKalb Chamber of Commerce - fewer than 600 members
• 2021 - Champaign County Chamber of Commerce - greater than 600 members
• 2020
• Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce - greater than 600 members
• Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce - fewer than 600 members
• 2019 - Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce - fewer than 600 members
• 2018 - Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce - fewer than 600 members
• 2017 - McLean County Chamber of Commerce  - greater than 600 members
• 2016
• ​Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce - greater than 600 members
• Effingham County Chamber of Commerce - fewer than 600 members
• 2015 - Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce  - greater than 600 members
• 2014 - Champaign County Chamber of Commerce  - greater than 600 members

Berwyn Development Corporation Executive Claudia Thornton receiving the 2023 Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award.