2025 Outstanding Chamber Program Winners Demonstrate the Impact of Local Chambers

W.A.C.E. introduced the Outstanding Program Awards as a way to “practice what we preach” and recognize the innovative and impactful programs created by chambers of commerce. These awards honor outstanding examples of chamber performance in our core competency areas, celebrating chambers that serve as catalysts for business growth, conveners of thought leaders, and champions for thriving communities.

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These programs showcase what it means to lead in the times—demonstrating relevance, creativity, and measurable impact in ways that align with being a 3C Chamber. In today’s rapidly evolving world, these programs serve as a blueprint for how chambers can stay meaningful and make a difference in their communities.

A key factor in our judges’ decisions was that these award-winning programs are not only innovative but also replicable. They are exemplary models that other chambers can follow, adapt, and implement to create their own successes.

There were many incredible submissions for this year’s awards, but these eight programs, four large and four small chambers, truly rose to the top!

In the Small Chamber group, honors went to:

• The American Canyon Chamber & Welcome Center’s “KIDS COMMERCE” program.
• The  Perris Valley Chamber’s “AVANZANDO” program.
• The Prescott Valley Chamber’s “HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION”.
• The  Vista Chamber’s “VELOCITY SUMMER INTERNSHIP”.

Representing Large Chambers were these honorees:

• The Greater Arvada Chamber’s “B.O.L.D. 2026 ADVOCACY NETWORK.”
• The Greater Stockton Chamber’s “STOCKTON TAKES ACTION AGAINST RETAIL THEFT” program.
• The  San Luis Obispo Chamber’s “SLO ONBOARDING ASSISTANCE RESOURCES (SOAR)”.
• The Vail Valley Partnership’s “VAIL VALLEY WORKS” program.

Over the next few months, WACE will partner with the winning Chambers to take a deeper dive into these programs, focusing on lessons learned so that other Chamber’s who may want to adapt one or more of the programs will have the details to do so.

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