Recognition comes off the heels of the organization being named National Chamber of the Year
Coming off the heels of being named National Chamber of the Year in July, the Fox Cities Chamber has again been recognized, this time at the state level with the prestigious Wisconsin Innovation Award.
The Chamber was the ONLY organization in Northeast Wisconsin to win a Wisconsin Innovation Award, which annually highlights and honors the development of groundbreaking and innovative ideas around the state.
The Chamber was honored for its pioneering Connect Free membership program. They were the first Chamber in the country to roll out a completely free membership level for qualified small businesses – companies with 5 or fewer employees, nonprofits with 10 or fewer employees, and freestanding restaurants.
To date the Chamber has added more than 700 businesses at the Connect Free level, providing small businesses no-cost access to the tools and resources they need to successfully run a business.
“We are incredibly honored to receive the Wisconsin Innovation Award for our Connect Free membership program,” said Becky Bartoszek, President and CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber. “This recognition highlights our commitment to providing equitable access to essential resources for small businesses in our community. By making Chamber membership accessible to even the smallest businesses, we’re helping entrepreneurs thrive and grow right here in Northeast Wisconsin. This award is a testament to our team’s dedication and to the innovative spirit that drives our Chamber and our region forward.”
The award was presented on October 8 in Madison at the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus. The Wisconsin Innovation Awards (WIA) announced 31 finalists in July for the 2024 awards, which recognize the state’s most innovative and forward-thinking companies and individuals. This year’s finalists spanned a diverse array of industries, from technology and healthcare to agriculture and nonprofit organizations, showcasing the remarkable talent and ingenuity that Wisconsin has to offer.
About the Fox Cities Chamber
Founded in 1874, the Fox Cities Chamber is a nonprofit membership organization that unites the regional business community for greater economic impact. Serving Outagamie, Calumet, and northern Winnebago Counties, the Fox Cities Chamber is the second largest Chamber in the state. Our organization proudly captures the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most dynamic regions and transforms it into innovative programs and services to champion employers, economic development, and quality of life. The Fox Cities Chamber is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024, and was recently named Chamber of the Year by the ACCE. For more information, visit https://foxcitieschamber.com/chamber-150th-anniversary/.
