The Valpo Chamber took home high honors at the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon held Friday, March 15, at the Hyatt in downtown Indianapolis.

The Valpo Chamber was selected as the “2013 Chamber of Commerce of the Year” by an independent panel of judges outside the state. The award is based on the U.S. Chamber’s accreditation process for local chambers and highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership, governance, finance, advocacy, and membership development.

Several factors lead to receiving the honor. Programs specifically mentioned were the Valpo Chamber Community Improvement Awards, recognizing local businesses for their commitment and investment in Valparaiso by improving their visual presence in the community and the Business Appreciation Luncheon, designed to thank top employers for their impact to improve and sustain a strong economic climate and employee base. The Chamber was also cited for its strong financial performance recognizing its success in new member development and consistent, high member reinvestment rates and its strong advocacy demonstrated on local, state, and national issues.

“This great honor is a testament to the staff and board leadership of the Valpo Chamber who, over time, have set the bar high for performance and effectiveness on behalf of the members,” states Chamber President, Rex Richards. “Everything that we do is for the benefit of our member investors. If our members are successful, then we are successful. It’s all about service.”

The Valpo Chamber is the only Northwest Indiana Chamber to have ever received “Chamber of Commerce of the Year.” The Chamber also won the same award in 2005.