The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce was awarded a 4-star accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce for their effective organizational procedures and outstanding contributions to positive change in the community.

Over the past year, the Chamber underwent an extensive reaccreditation review as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Program under the direction of Chamber Board Member Dennis Davenport of McNally, Fox & Grant, P.C. Resulting from this review, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce received a 4-star accreditation and was only one of six chambers across the country to receive this award at the November 8 U.S. Chamber board meeting.

Out of 6,936 chambers in the United States, only 332 are accredited. These elite chambers represent the top 5 percent of all chambers in the U.S. The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is one of five chambers in the state of Georgia to have a 4-star accreditation.

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including governance, government affairs, and technology. The final rating, Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars, depends on the chamber's ability to successfully meet additional criteria, including accountability, financial transparency, employee involvement, political advocacy, and community involvement. The accrediting board, a panel of U.S. Chamber board members, votes on the final accreditation.

"I am extremely pleased that our Chamber was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a high-performing organization dedicated to serving its members," said Mike Jablonski, 2005 Chamber Board Chair. "I believe that the very dedicated volunteer force working with a top-notch staff and focused leadership is why the U.S. Chamber saw fit to award a 4-star accreditation. I thank each of those people for helping our Chamber build the quality of life for our businesses and citizens in Fayette County."

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