WAYNE, NJ – With so many businesses, small, medium, and large, it may surprise some that there hasn’t been a Wayne Chamber of Commerce. There wasn’t until Wednesday, when the Greater Wayne Chamber of Commerce held its first networking event at the Outback Steakhouse on Berdan Avenue.
A Chamber of Commerce can be beneficial to an entire community. It primarily supports local businesses through networking events and legislative advocacy, but many chambers also engage in charitable activities.
This is why Wayne businessman Christian Sees of Integrus Financial has been pushing for a chamber of commerce in town for years. He was successful, but not by establishing a new chamber; rather, he assisted in the restoration of an old one.
Nobody this reporter spoke with could recall a Wayne Chamber of Commerce, but that chamber evolved into the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce years ago. Years later, it was renamed the Greater Wayne Chamber of Commerce, and it intends to concentrate its efforts primarily in Wayne, but also in the surrounding area.
“Wayne is the anchor of the business community in northern Passaic County,” said Orlando Cruz, the President of the new Wayne Chamber. Christian Sees backed him up on the point.
“A lot of the surrounding communities look to Wayne as a hub,” he said. “We have malls, we have hospitals, big businesses, small businesses, manufacturing. Wayne has just about every type of business.”
Cruz, who comes with a lot of experience running multiple chambers, including the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce, described Wayne as a “destination,” and that a Chamber of Commerce in Wayne “makes sense.”
“Our goal is to help support and build the business community in and around Wayne to keep it thriving,” said Cruz, adding that, “Our biggest strength is in our relationship with local legislators, so that we can really bring our members the most up-to-date information that may impact their business.”
Cruz also mentioned educational opportunities for businesses on “hot-button” issues like cannabis legalization and its impact on local communities. The Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce hosted a small symposium with a number of experts who provided in-depth knowledge of the subject. This is the type of thing Cruz intends to bring to Wayne.
Chambers of Commerce also provide an opportunity for new businesses to network, as well as marketing and publicity among other businesses through a local directory and shared discounts among members.
According to Sees, the Greater Wayne Chamber of Commerce intends to be a positive, contributing member of the Wayne community.
“First, a thriving business community can only help Wayne,” said Sees. “Secondly, there’s a multitude of organizations looking for donations, looking for manpower, looking for support. I believe a chamber of commerce should be the conduit to helping those organizations.”
“A chamber bridges the gap between businesses and the community,” Cruz said.
Cruz says the organization intends to hold “at least” one event per month. However, he believes that as the chamber grows, it will be able to host many more events.
With rampant inflation and a perplexing economic climate, business owners can use all the assistance they can get, and a chamber of commerce can provide a lot of assistance.
This new chamber may arrive in Wayne just in time.
Source : tapinto
