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Mission & Vision

Vision:

To be a premier driving force for business & community prosperity in Central Virginia.

Mission:

An organization of business and community leaders working together to serve the interests of our members by providing programs and services which improve the economic vitality of our community.

Core Values:

  • Integrity
  • Pro-Active
  • Responsive
  • Bold and Decisive
  • Openness

The Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce is an organization of business and community leaders working together to serve the interests of our members by providing programs and services which improve the economic vitality of our community enhancing the business community through advocacy, education, and networking.

Since 1939, the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce has served as the “front door” to Bedford businesses and continues to provide an active forum for leadership in the community.  The Chamber acts as an advocate for local businesses in many ways.

The Chamber provides hundreds of opportunities for Chamber members to network in both casual and professional environments.  These opportunities include Business Before Hours, Business After Hours, Leads Groups, an Ambassador program, community events and more. The Chamber strategically targets the populace areas of Bedford County, promoting Virginia’s important tourism industry.

Throughout the year, member businesses have an opportunity to host a Business After Hours event, which generally attracts more than 100 attendees, providing an excellent opportunity to network in a casual environment.  Smaller businesses with fewer financial resources and/or limited space have an opportunity to host a Business Before Hours, successfully showcasing their businesses to thirty or more attendees.

An Annual Dinner and Awards Gala is held each year to celebrate Chamber accomplishments and to recognize community leaders and businesses.  Additionally, the Chamber supports four leads groups, one in Bedford, one in Lynchburg, one in Forest, and one at Smith Mountain Lake, made up of Chamber members to help facilitate networking opportunities.  The Chamber also offers an Ambassador Program for Chamber member volunteers to serve as liaisons to our business community.

The Chamber has several active advocacy groups: The Government Affairs Committee was formed in 2006 as a part of the Chamber’s application for accreditation by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.  This committee is made up of town and county officials, as well as many community business leaders who hold a deep interest in the issues concerning our area. The Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG) represents another such effort.  This group’s primary mission is to support the Town and County in efforts to provide the best and safest transportation within the community.

Another Chamber Task Force is the Workforce Development Group, which partners with Bedford County Public Schools and other area organizations to enhance workforce development in our community and encourage involvement in education by our area businesses. Other areas for volunteer participation include the Special Events committee, Marketing, and Technology.

The Chamber received its 4-star Accreditation with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce in 2011.  This designation places the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce in the top 3 percent of the nation’s chambers.

The Chamber holds its primary office in the Town of Bedford and is dedicated to working closely with the Town and County in support of tourism and economic development in the district.

The Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce serves the Town of Bedford and the communities of Big Island, Forest, Goode, Montvale, New London, Smith Mountain Lake, Stewartsville, Thaxton and extends to other communities in the surrounding region including Lynchburg, Roanoke, Amherst, Altavista, and more.