Business, Entrepreneurial, and High-Tech Community to Benefit

(Charlottesville, Virginia – October 9) The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) and the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) today announced that their respective organizations have signed an agreement to jointly support the entrepreneurial and high-tech business community in an innovative affiliation. Chiefly, this agreement provides for the following advantages:

• CBIC will retain its independent, separate organizational status with independent governance in affiliated membership with, and under operational management by the Chamber;
  
• CBIC member companies with 10 or fewer employees in good standing will become CBIC Chamber Affiliate Members receiving access to Chamber member benefits;
  
• All Chamber member enterprises in good standing will have equal access to all CBIC events, activities and member services on a member basis; and,
  
• The Chamber will provide operational management and administrative support to CBIC on a fee-for-service basis, enabling CBIC to transition more easily to an all-volunteer directed organization.

In this slowing economy, CBIC has converted its organizational model from that of a volunteer-led, staff-run group to a solely volunteer-led and run group. The Chamber offers established organizational strength and is well-equipped in a wide range of needed ongoing administrative capacities – from sound accounting, event management and communications to everyday items such as registration and invoicing.

“The Chamber’s offer to assist CBIC by assuming these functions on a fee-for-service basis was both timely and very well received,” said Gary F. Henry, CBIC Acting Chairman who serves on the Board of Directors for both organizations. “I feel strongly that this affiliation brings greater value to both organizations and to individual CBIC and Chamber members. We are pleased that the Chamber is bringing its demonstrated strength to encourage and enhance our community’s critical stake in developing a more diverse technology-based economy,” he continued.

“Our Chamber believes that this new affiliation with the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council represents both an opportunity and a responsibility to our Chamber,” added Timothy Hulbert, Chamber President. “Our Chamber will work at providing the Council and its member enterprises a full range of services in helping to build an even more vital overall business environment and business community.”

Additional benefits of this collaborative affiliation include cross-promotion of Chamber and CBIC events to each organization’s respective members, and closer collaboration of scheduling events while mutually respecting the independence of both groups.

About the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC):

The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council is the preeminent private-sector advocate and catalyst for entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development in our Greater Charlottesville region. Formerly known as the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council + Charlottesville Venture Group (VPTC+CVG), our new name and identity became official on October 2, 2007. CBIC serves its members by providing advocacy, educational programming, and by bringing people together through our network of members and contacts. For details on how you can join CBIC, please contact us at 434.817.6300 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the CBIC Website at http://www.cvillebic.org.

About the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce:

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in the Greater Charlottesville communities. Founded in 1913, today the Chamber has 1,200 member enterprises. Chamber members employ more than 45,000 men and women in Greater Charlottesville, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.3 billion a year. For more information, contact: www.cvillechamber.com or 434.295.3141.