The Knoxville Chamber of Commerce’s new association with a regional partnership of other chambers will allow its members to have wider access to services, while allowing the local staff to concentrate on more immediate concerns.

The December Lunch and Learn presentation from the Chamber featured Meg Schneider from the Greater Des Moines Partnership; Knoxville is now one of two dozen local chambers which have banded together to share their resources and expand their influence beyond their own city limits.

Hannah Vander Veer from the Knoxville Chamber tells KNIA/KRLS News the membership has by and large welcomed this new association, and she plans to keep letting members know how best to put it to use.

“I’ve heard nothing but good feedback, which is really great for us. I think it’s just a matter, too, of us continuing to educate our members just on this dual membership and…what things they can get out of it,” Vander Veer says. “It’ll be a work in progress; every week I’ll be pushing this information and hoping more people jump on board.”

The partnership can provide local chambers with access in legislative matters, live streaming or on-line playback of webinars and other special events, and promotional and employment networking beyond what they can find locally.