The three largest chambers of commerce in Williamson County will join to form a single countywide chamber of commerce, the boards of directors of the three organizations announced July 27.
The boards of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber, the Cool Springs Chamber and the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber voted to approve the unification upon the unanimous recommendation of a joint task force that has been studying the issue since December. The task force included representatives of the three chambers plus members from the Spring Hill, Nolensville and Fairview chambers.
The single chamber is intended to provide greater opportunities for programming and networking for its members, and to be a stronger voice for economic development and the quality of life in Williamson County. As part of its recommendation, the task force coined the phrase “One Williamson- One Chamber” to best convey the message and potential strength of unification.
“Creation of a single countywide chamber of commerce is a natural step in the evolution of Williamson County,” the three boards said in a statement. “The new organization will be a natural leader in the region and help improve the quality of life and economic development in our county. We will be organized for the future while honoring the past.”
The next step in the process is the formation of a transitional Board of Directors for the new Chamber, the members of which will be announced by September 1 of this year. The chambers of Nolensville, Fairview, and Spring Hill will remain independent and have been invited to serve on the transitional Board as well. It will be the purpose of that Board to work on the best and most efficient ways to combine the programs, operations, leadership and locations of the three existing chambers. No final decisions have yet been made about those issues.
A countywide press conference will be scheduled as soon as the transitional board has been named.
As stated throughout the process, the overarching goal has been to create an organization that will be positioned to best represent the entirety of the business community in Williamson County.
“These are truly exciting times for the Williamson County-Franklin, Brentwood Cool Springs, and Cool Spring Chambers of Commerce,” said Richard Jefferson, Chairman of the Williamson County Franklin Chamber. “It is without question that upon the unification of the chambers, the business community and economic development efforts will be those that all others will strive to emulate.”
“This is a great day for the business community in Williamson County. We absolutely believe this is the right thing for economic and community development and whole-heartedly support the unification of the three chambers,” said Guy A. Crossley, Board Chair of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce.
“The Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce and its leadership team are very pleased about the approval by the three major chambers in Williamson County to form a unified chamber,” said Sheree Bartlett, chairman of the Cool Springs Chamber. “We feel this is a win for our business community and our members. We are excited about this and the opportunities it will bring to Williamson County.“