The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 40

COVER STORY TRACY STATE Ike McLeese, president and CEO of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, reflects at a meeting of the group's board. Chambers of commerce abound in Midlands But members say each organization offers it own array of benefits By MAURICE THOMAS Staff Writer EROY GIBSON joined the of Greater Commerce Columbia when Chamber he opened his first Grease Monkey auto service shop in 1986. As his business expanded over the years into three other locations in Richland and Lexington counties, Gibson also joined the chambers representing Irmo and Lexington. Each of his three memberships THE STATE COLUMBIA provides an opportunity to give back to the community through donations and time, Gibson said. He'll spend about $850 this year on dues and supplemental contributions.

"It gives us a chance to network at meetings and after hours with other business owners," Gibson said. With six chambers of commerce located in Lexington and Richland counties, businesses of all sizes can find an array of programs and benefits to meet their needs. The chambers are Greater Columbia, Greater Lexington, Greater Irmo, Greater Chapin, Greater Batesburg-Leesville and West Metro, which represents West Columbia and Cayce. Combined, the six groups will spend more than $2.3 million this BUSINESS JOURNAL year on programs and services. Columbia and Lexington chambers The Columbia chamber has the in order to reach all of the nearby bulk of that with an operating bud- communities.

get of about $2.1 million. "I don't see them as similar Many of the chambers have chambers," she said. Each chamsimilar events such as breakfast ber has its own function, she said. meetings, award events, after- In the smaller communities, the hours networking and training chambers of commerce provide an seminars. But it is community-spe- important business and commucific activities that allow smaller nity connection.

chambers to differentiate them- "The chamber brings the comselves from the munity together," said Chuck Greater Columbia Chamber of Larsen, executive director of the Commerce. Greater Irmo Chamber of ComFor that reason, many business merce. owners, like Gibson, elect to join His organization raises money more than one group. for scholarships given annually at Nikki Randhawa-Haley, con- Irmo and Dutch Fork high schools. troller for Exotica International, a The Irmo chamber also hosts the men's and women's clothing store Miss Irmo pageant.

in West Columbia, said her com- The Batesburg-Leesville champany belongs to the West Metro, ber is involved in the master com- 8 MARCH 4, 2002.