The United States Chamber of Commerce awarded the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.

Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can take six to nine months to complete.

Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars. State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. Of the 7,000 chambers in the United States, 214 of these are Accredited with only 125 honored with five stars.

“This is very gratifying recognition from the United States Chamber of Commerce on the performance of the last five years of our organization,” says President/CEO of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Bustamante. “The Anchorage Chamber has stayed on mission in providing quality programs and opportunities for business to grow in Anchorage. The 5-Star Accreditation represents the highest standard for Chambers in the United States and it provides us confirmation that we are delivering valuable services to our business members. This is recognition of the work of staff, volunteers, ambassadors and board members at the highest level in our industry.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.