Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce is a local, independent, nonprofit organization that does not pay dues to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and has no political affiliation. Funds raised through membership dues and donations to the Edmonds Chamber are reinvested in the local community.
No. The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce is a local, independent, nonprofit organization. While we partner with the City on some projects and events, we are independently funded and operate independently.
Many people don’t realize that several large community events such as An Edmonds Kind of 4th, Halloween Trick-or-Treat Night, and the Tree Lighting Ceremony are produced by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, not the City. These events are not paid for by taxpayer dollars; instead, Chamber staff and board members work to secure funds through sponsorships, grants, and by hosting fundraising events such as Taste Edmonds and the Clam Chowder Cook-Off.
Our office is located in the City Hall building in downtown Edmonds at 121 5th Ave N. Directly across the street is the historic Log Cabin Visitor Center, where visitors and residents alike can get information about things to do and places to see from one of our dedicated volunteers.
So glad you asked! Check out our membership page for more information about the many benefits of becoming an Edmonds Chamber member.
We have over 400 members and continue to grow. Most of our members are small, local businesses; in fact, about half of our members have fewer than 5 employees. Many nonprofit organizations have joined the Chamber as well. (Do you run a nonprofit? We offer a 20% discount on membership fees for nonprofits!)
You can see a full list of business and nonprofit members by viewing our membership directory.
We also have a growing number of individual and family members from the community. These members join to support the mission of the Chamber and show appreciation for the many community events we produce each year. Even some pets have joined!
You can learn more about each type of membership by visiting this page.
The short answer is no; almost all of our functions are open to the public, and many of them are free to attend. Obviously, the big community events are made to draw a large crowd of fun-loving people from Edmonds and beyond. No membership necessary (though we do appreciate any support people are able to give toward the cost of producing these events)!
Our luncheons are also open to the public, though registration is required and members do receive a discounted admission. We also encourage people to check out our monthly happy hours and weekly networking breakfasts anytime; no registration or membership needed. However, we do ask those who plan to take advantage of these functions with any regularity to please, out of fairness to all of our dues-paying members, sign up for a membership.
No. Several of our members are located to the North, South, East, and even West of Edmonds! Regional members join this Chamber because it is one of the most robust in the region and provides ample opportunities for visibility in Edmonds and beyond.
In most cases, businesses can write off Chamber dues as a business expense. Please talk to your CPA about how to factor this in when filing taxes.
Yes. Membership packages are categorized by the size of an organization and based on number of employees. Any employee is considered an active member of the Chamber and is welcome to utilize all benefits.
Occasionally, an employee of a member company will try to register for a Chamber event only to find they are not in the system. This is because all individuals need to be entered manually as representatives under the company’s account. For instructions on how to do this (and many other things), please visit the website tutorial page.
Please visit our website tutorial page to see thorough instructions for updating your online listing.
We often receive requests from members to include special announcements in our weekly newsletter. In order to keep the newsletter content manageable, we do not typically include such announcements. However, we are happy to help members spread the word in other ways:
- Broadcast emails, a.k.a. “eBlasts,” are sent to hundreds of Chamber member emails and media contacts. They are a great way for members to directly promote an event, special announcement, or other promotion. The cost for this service is $80.
- Facebook posts have the potential to reach our 3,000+ followers. If you’ve posted something you want the Chamber community to know about, tag us in the post and also contact the Chamber office. We will gladly share your news online (within reason and provided staff availability).
Yes! The charming and historic Log Cabin Visitor Center is located directly across from the Chamber office (inside City Hall, 121 5th Ave N.) and next door to the South Snohomish County Historical Museum. It is staffed by a group of dedicated and friendly volunteers who are knowledgeable about the city and are eager to help visitors and residents alike make the most of a day in Edmonds.
Please reach out to us! We are happy to help. Find contact information for our staff here.
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