Our Story
Who We Are
We connect, help, and fight for the 125,000+ businesses in Manhattan.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is the convener, voice and advocate of the 125,000+ businesses across the borough of Manhattan, which is the heart of New York City's economy. Collectively, these businesses employ more than 2.4 million people and generate $939 billion in annual GDP.
Founded in 1920, the Chamber’s mission is to bolster our local businesses and hometown industries by fostering, and improving, trade and commerce.
The Chamber is a 501(c)(6) membership association of business owners and representatives. Together, we’re building a stronger climate for businesses of all sizes to operate in New York City.
The Chamber also has two 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arms: our foundation provides business outreach, training, technical assistance, and other resources to help businesses succeed in New York. Our community benefit fund distributes grants to small businesses.
What We Do
We bring the business community together through events, Industry Councils, and political advocacy. We work with community partners to advance broad economic development goals in New York. And we help members of our organization to:
- Strengthen their business and grow. We provide networking and promotional opportunities, educational webinars, 1:1 business consulting, and ongoing intel on new regulations and business resources available.
- Influence public policy. We represent the business community in Albany and at City Hall. We provide opportunities for businesses to get politically engaged.
- Raise their local profile and support the local community. We help businesses to showcase their commitment to New York City and to further their social impact goals. Businesses can partner with us on charitable efforts, primarily those intended to help New York's small businesses; or that address emerging needs in the local economy.
Our History
The Chamber was incorporated in 1920 as the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce.
It was founded by 11 prominent merchants in the Yorkville neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, which at that time was predominantly populated by German-born immigrants.
Their mission was “to foster and improve the trade and commerce of Yorkville…and to promote the prosperity and general welfare thereof.”
This was particularly important in the wake of World War I when a wave of anti-German sentiment had spread throughout the United States.
Over the decades the Chamber expanded to encompass Mid-East Manhattan, then Mid-Manhattan and finally, in 1997, the entire borough: the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Community Benefit Fund was established in 1994. The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Foundation was established in 1998.
