Date: 10/30/2015
EAST LONGMEADOW – The East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) recently announced it has officially become an independent organization. This change took place on Sept. 1.
The decision to do so was made largely as a result of the merger between the ACCGS and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
It became clear to the leadership of the ERC5 that dissolving its Board and sharing its financial resources with a Springfield-based organization was not in the best interest of its membership. Instead, the 24-person board voted unanimously to maintain its independence and continue as the leading business association for the towns of Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Hampden, and Ludlow.
“When the ERC5 Board met, all options were considered. In the end, it was clear that the businesses of our member towns needed and deserved direct representation,” Dennis Lopata, ERC5 president, said.
The ERC5 will continue its long-standing partnerships with the Economic Development Council (EDC) and the newly forming SRC. For instance, the ERC5 will maintain a position on the SRC Board, and continue its partnership with the SRC on its three large regional events: Operation Outlook, The Beacon Hill Summit, and Super 60. Additionally, the ERC5 will hold three seats on the SRC legislative committee and offer a “regional discount” to its membership for those who would like to enjoy memberships with both organizations.
“Our Board has worked hard to strike a balance between independence and maintaining a partnership with the Springfield Regional Chamber,” Lopata said. “Although it’s important that our membership get direct representation in their respective towns, it’s also important that we continue to support efforts at the regional level. We believe our arrangement as of September 1 of this year does just that.”
First Vice Chair Edward Zemba added, “There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the ERC5. This will be the first time in over 20 years that the ERC5 membership will have its own executive director. The membership will now have someone working exclusively on their behalf to ensure that they share in all of the benefits coming from the economic development taking place within our region.”
The East of the River Five Town Chamber is dedicated to serving businesses operating in East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Hampden, Wilbraham, and Ludlow. For more information, contact Executive Director Shannon Bliven at 575-7230 or visit, www.ERC5.com.
