PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Greater Memphis Chamber has been named the 2025 Chamber of the Year in Category 4 (Regional Chamber) by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the most prestigious honor in the chamber industry. The announcement came during the ACCE Awards Show on Wednesday, July 23, at the organization’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia. This achievement is a first-time award for the Greater Memphis Chamber.

The award, sponsored by GrowthZone, recognizes excellence in operations, member service, and community leadership. The Greater Memphis Chamber emerged victorious after a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process that began with qualification based on key performance metrics, followed by a comprehensive written application and culminating in an in-person interview with a panel of experienced chamber professionals.

Greater Memphis Chamber President & CEO Ted Townsend and Chief Government Affairs Officer Bobby White represented the organization during the final interview, presenting on the transformative “Digital Delta” initiative that has positioned Memphis as a global tech leader.

“This win isn’t just for your Greater Memphis Chamber — it’s for the entire city of Memphis,” said Townsend. “It validates our bold vision and collaborative approach to economic development. We’ve created a culture of winning by focusing on people, place, and prosperity, whether that’s through securing Tennessee’s largest infrastructure investment or creating pathways to high-quality jobs for our diverse workforce.”

The Chamber’s award-winning application highlighted several significant achievements, including:

  • The development of the “Digital Delta” initiative, leveraging Memphis’ #1 ranking in Black tech talent concentration among large U.S. metros to attract major technology investments
  • Advocacy efforts that secured nearly $400 million in grant funding for the new I-55 Bridge, known as “America’s River Crossing”
  • Winning Business Facilities’ Deal of the Year for securing xAI’s $12 billion investment, Tennessee’s largest-ever economic development project
  • Implementation of workforce development programs as part of the Prosper Memphis 2030 Strategic Plan aimed at increasing STEM certifications to 20,000 annually and creating pathways to high-quality jobs through partnerships with local universities and community colleges

The Chamber’s strategic approach aligns with ACCE’s priorities, demonstrating agility in addressing workforce development needs and infrastructure challenges while showcasing Memphis’ growing global impact in the technology sector.

This recognition follows the Chamber’s earlier honors, including Business Facilities’ 2024 Bronze Deal of the Year Award for the xAI investment and the Community Impact – CiCi Award for the AAON Inc. expansion project.

For more information about the Greater Memphis Chamber and its initiatives, visit www.memphischamber.com

About The Greater Memphis Chamber
One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers.