Welcome to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce's Website
THE MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETS THE FIRST THURSDAYS OF EACH MONTH AT 6:00PM AT THE GOLF VIEW HOTEL IN MANDEVILLE
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
We all should be equally delighted with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Website. The Chamber continues in its effort to play a vital role for its members and general business community in Manchester.
This website will serve to keep our members up-to-date on worthwhile information, mitigating our quest to keep a step ahead of our competitors.
We look forward to your comments, suggestions and support in this or any other area in the operations of the Chamber.
Best regards,
Winston President Manchester Chamber of Commerce
PROFILE OF PROGRAMMES
The executive of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce has been focused on our mission to be the united voice of businesses, by promoting business and community development and encouraging positive economic progress, while identifying and serving the needs of our members, by providing them services to promote growth and facilitating economic development in the Parish of Manchester.
Monthly Members Meetings: Held every 1st Thursday of each month and includes: topical discussions, member presentations and guests speakers.
Business Luncheons: Four fund raising luncheons are held annually and feature a special guest speaker. The luncheon offers tasty cuisine, networking opportunities for members and potential members in a stress-free atmosphere.
Forums and Seminars: Based on the needs of our members, the Chamber organises on its own or with partner entities forums, seminars and training courses to keep the membership informed of the opportunities that exist and general assistance available for challenges faced.
Closed to Crime Initiative (CTCI): The Chamber in conjunction with stakeholders within Manchester is embarking on a $10 Million Crime Plan Initiative to direct an attack on criminality in an effort to eradicate the scourge in Manchester.
Marcus Garvey Fair: Annually the Chamber leads the organization of the Marcus Garvey Fair at the Liberty Hall in the community of Resource in South Manchester in honour of our National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
Operation Entrepreneurism: An ambitious programme of the Chamber is to fight crime and poverty in the parish of Manchester and we seeks to train 500 budding and existing entrepreneurs across the length and breadth of Manchester in partnership with the Northern Caribbean University’s Morris Entrepreneurial Centre and the Entrepreneurial Skills Development Unit of the HEART Trust.
Annual Awards Banquet: The banquet is held in December of each yearl. This exquisite end of year event will see the recognition of deserving members. This will be a major fundraiser for the Chamber.
Glimpses: The membership is kept informed of the Chamber’s activities by our e-newsletter, ‘Glimpses’, which is published monthly
Communication & Public Affairs
Home and vehicle for the Chamber's public relations. This Division will receive from the Secretariat, or prepares for the Secretariat, information for release to the media on the instructions of the secretariat. It may also receive information from the Entrepreneurism and Business Advocacy Division Head for release to the media on approval of the Secretariat. Approval will consist of the President and any other member of the Secretariat. Otherwise in such absence of the President, on the signature of a Vice President and any other two members. The Division is the main medium of external communications
Membership
This Division is charged with keeping in touch with Chamber members and ensuring their needs are met. The Division also sees to the issuing of new Chamber memberships, renewing existing memberships, and providing the Chamber members with a variety of services, including mailing lists, member to member discounts, networking events, etc.
Workforce Development
The Division connects businesses to local and national workforce systems and to institutions delivering training for those systems in order to better align current and future training with the needs of the workplace. It is responsible for the drive to see a highly skilled, well educated workforce prepared for challenges
Entrepreneurism & Business Advocacy
This Division leads the drive to enhance and nurture the innovative entrepreneurial environment and ensure that both the tools and the necessary economic climate are available to assist enterprises to grow, create jobs. This Division will have responsibility for the slate of industries/sectors represented in the community vis a vis mining, tourism, agriculture, construction, services, etc, which are referred to as Units. Assigned Unit heads will report directly to the Division head.
Finance:
The Division ensures adequacy of funding for the Chamber's administration as well as its projects, through fundraising, membership dues and other sources of income. It prepares the annual budget in line with the objectives set each year and monitors actual income and expenditure. The Division will see to the preparation of the financial statements of the Chamber and for the necessary audit to be done on an annual basis. Monthly management accounts are to be reported to the Board of Directors and members meetings.
Government Relations & Economic Development
This Division is charged with lobbying efforts and representation at local and national level in ensuring the needs of members are met and that the drive leads to economic development within the Parish. Air transportation, Highway Development, Water Supplies are some major issues of the Division however will be reviewed annually or more frequently if necessary.
Projects and Events
This Division will spearhead and arrange all projects of the Chamber which includes but is not limited to Monthly members meetings, Seminars, luncheons, Award functions, and community projects.
