Thibodaux chamber accredited with 4 stars

The Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce has garnered 4-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, making the business group one of nine in the state and one of 159 in the country to achieve that benchmark.

Kathy Benoit, the chamber’s director, said the business group attained the acknowledgement “by following the good practices and recommendations of the U.S. Chamber, keeping excellent records, having a good track record on accurate information going out to our members, accurate financial reporting, excellent facilities, just a number of things.”

Founded in 1966 in Lafourche Parish’s seat, the Thibodaux chamber was first accredited in 2008, then with no stars. The certification lasts for five years, and in order to maintain the endorsement the business group must reapply.

The process can take anywhere from six to nine months to complete.

The Thibodaux chamber is owned by its approximately 600 members and governed by an elected board of directors, not the U.S. Chamber, Benoit pointed out.

But as a member of the national group, the local organization receives information packets concerning federal issues that it in turn distributes to its members. Some recent issues with a local impact include Congress’ attempt to pass a Water Resources Development Act bill, the Affordable Care Act’s implementation and the ongoing debate about flood-insurance reform enacted by the Biggert-Waters Act.

Thibodaux’s chamber was one of 20 to get the national group’s stamp of approval earlier this month.

“We live by (the U.S. Chamber’s principles of best practices) every day so that when it comes times to do the hundreds of pages of the (accreditation) application, we’re prepared,” Benoit said.

The U.S. Chamber’s accreditation website says it is a recognition of business groups that stress business practices, make community contribution, stay in touch with industry changes and support free enterprise while promoting “pro-growth” policies at the local, state and federal levels. Chambers can receive anywhere from three to five stars with their endorsements.

“Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and positively influence their community,” said Raymond P. Towle, executive director of the Chamber’s Political Affairs and Federation Relations. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.”

The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce is accredited at 5 stars. The Lafourche Parish Chamber of Commerce has not attained U.S. Chamber accreditation.