About the Chamber

Come on—Get to know us!

We're the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, your time-tested small business collective. We’re here to help you get connected in the community, to nourish and grow your business, and to help you take advantage of all our area has to offer.

The Chamber Collaborative's six foundational pillars are the building blocks that define us and our service to the Seacoast business community. We invite you to join us to connect, educate, collaborate, advocate, market and build community—as together we make the Greater Portsmouth area a better, more prosperous place to live, work and play.

We're tasked with leading the greater Portsmouth business community as convener of people, businesses, and organizations, through communication, education, support, advocacy, and cooperative opportunities. And we’re ready for it!

The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth is a 501c6 organization registered under our legal name, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

Mission

Our mission is to lead the greater Portsmouth business community as a convener of people, businesses, and organizations, through innovative and responsive communication, education, advocacy, and collaborative opportunities. - Adopted February 26, 2024.

Vision

Realize a diverse City of the Open Door by empowering and advocating for the greater Portsmouth business community creating a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. - Adopted February 26, 2024.

Diversity

In principle and practice, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth supports efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all aspects of life in the greater Portsmouth community as we strive to live up to Portsmouth’s legacy as the City of the Open Door.

We work to create a welcoming environment for all regardless of race, color, ethnicity or place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran or marital status, physical or mental ability or disability, religion or socioeconomics.

The Chamber Collaborative can only be enhanced by incorporating a diverse range of experiences and perspectives into the business community, its membership, board, and staff.

- Adopted May 18, 2023

Legislative Priorities

WORKFORCE

Encourages innovative workforce development in partnership with K-12 Career Technical Education programs, critical industries, the University System of NH and Community College System of NH
Supports increased funding for public K-12 programs, the University System of NH, and Community College System of NH
Continue to restore the J-1 Visa exchange visitor program to pre-pandemic levels to provide short term staffing relief during the busy summer months
Expand the development, availability, and affordability of quality childcare opportunities for working families
Supports efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of life in Portsmouth. Fostering a welcoming environment for all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity or place of origin, sexual orientation, and gender to enhance the “City of the Open Door” legacy

HEALTHCARE

HOUSING

Support the development of diverse housing types across Portsmouth, the Seacoast region, and the state to address the needs of our workforce across all income levels.
Encourage the City of Portsmouth to maximize available resources and tools to expedite workforce housing creation by eliminating unnecessary barriers, enhancing regulatory efficiencies, and
streamlining approval processes.
Support the adoption and expansion of tax credits, public-private partnerships, community land trusts, and other creative funding models to incentivize and accelerate the development of workforce housing.

ECONOMY

Supports investment by local communities, the State of New Hampshire and private businesses in a regional mass transit system and other efforts to enhance infrastructure and reduce congestion
Encourages continued investment in the Port of New Hampshire
Supports maintaining any policies that would increase funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism and funding of the state Joint Promotional Program
Supports enabling legislation to permit municipalities to impose a local occupancy tax that significantly funds tourism promotion on the local level

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Legislative Priorities Adopted by the Board of Directors

December 12, 2024

Initiatives

NETWORKING

TOURISM

Portsmouth has been a popular destination for centuries. With more and more competition around the globe, it is vital that Portsmouth keep its place as a premier destination - and we work hard do just that. We are the team behind GoPortsmouthNH.com and we work day in and day out to promote our community.

Marketing
It seems like every week there is an article about Portsmouth or we are on a top 10 list in a publication. This doesn’t happen by chance. Our team is constantly sharing information about our community with media throughout the country and abroad to help craft these pieces that promote the Seacoast.
Events
We are proud to be the organizers of some of our community's flagship events, including Restaurant Week Portsmouth and the Seacoast, the Greater Ceres Street Open, and Hit the Decks to name a few. Find more information on these great events at the Signature Events page.
Visitor Center / Kiosk
We love to show our visitors a good time! The team of experts in our Visitor Center on Market Street and the Visitor Information Kiosk in Market Square know just where to send our visitors for that perfect cocktail, a dinner out, the latest fashions, or whatever fits their fancy. We welcome visitors from all over the country and beyond, and we are proud to serve as our community's hosts.

PARTNERSHIP

We know people and we are happy to connect you with the right resources to grow your network business.

We're happy to povide introductions to many great organizations including, but not limited to GoodWork, Business Alliance for People of Color (BAPOC), New Hampshire Outright, Twenty-One Senses, NH Service Dogs, Access Navigators, UNH, Great Bay Community College, SCORE, SBA, SBDC, and more.

Let us know how we can help.

PUBLIC POLICY

We're your governmental relations team tracking important issues in our community, state, region and country that will impact your business and our qualityof life. We utilize our strength in numbers to share the business community's concerns with our elected leadership so they can effectively represent us. With 800+ businesses in our membership representing over 30,000 local employees we have a strong voice that gets noticed.

Public Policy Committee Presented by Eversource
The Public Policy Committee keeps track of important issues and legislation that is relevant to our community. The Public Policy Committee hosts educational opportunities for business leaders to learn more about important issues facing our community and businesses. These free events are our opportunity to learn together from regional experts so we can make informed decisions.
Information
We keep you informed. In our communications with you there will be updates on relevant topics. We work closely with the City and State to keep you informed on various projects or issues facing our community.
Advocacy
From time to time the Chamber Board of Directors will direct the Chamber staff to advocate on behalf of our community on a particular issue. We work closely with our local, state, and federal representatives to advocate for a high quality of life and a great business climate.

EDUCATION

State of the State and State of the City
The Governor presents an address to the membership at State of the State event, and the City Manager and Mayor present at the State of the City. As opportunities present themselves we will expand these offerings.
Collaborate & Listen Podcast
Titled in a way to make members of a certain age chuckle, Collaborate and Listen highlights our exciting, engaging and diverse membership in digestible 20-45 minute bites.
Education Programs
From breakfast series keynotes to one-hour introduction workshops, we offer a wide array of educational programming topics. Most of these events take place between January and June. Check the events calendar for details.