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Business Leads Fellowship Program

Training business leaders to make an impact on education and workforce.

The Business Leads Fellowship Program is developing business leaders to be education and workforce champions in their community and connect learners to economic opportunity. Business Leads equips chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and statewide trade associations with the resources necessary to implement change in the education and workforce pipeline.

Hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the six-month program consists of both virtual and in-person workshops. Topics include early education, K-12, college and career readiness, postsecondary education, and workforce development. Each workshop is taught by leaders who have put policies into practice to bring opportunity to their communities.

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Interested in becoming a Fellow?

Please complete this form to receive application information when the next cohort of the Business Leads Fellowship Program opens. We typically open two cohorts per year.

To be considered for the program, applicants should be currently employed by a chamber of commerce, economic development agency, or statewide trade association.

Join the Network

Business Leads Fellows come from communities in every state in the country.

1-5
6-10
11-15
More than 15

Alaska

  • Anchorage Chamber of Commerce: Anchorage, AK
  • Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce: Fairbanks, AK

Alabama

  • Birmingham Business Alliance: Birmingham, AL
  • Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center: Anniston, AL
  • Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County: Huntsville, AL
  • Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce: Dothan, AL
  • Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce: Fairhope, AL
  • Mobile Chamber: Mobile, AL
  • Opelika Chamber of Commerce: Opelika, AL
  • Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce: Prattville, AL
  • Shelby County Chamber: Pelham, AL
  • Shoals Chamber of Commerce: Florence, AL
  • The Chamber of Gadsden & Etowah County: Gadsden, AL

Arkansas

  • Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas: Little Rock, AR
  • Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce: Fayetteville, AR
  • Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce: Jonesboro, AR
  • North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce: North Little Rock, AR
  • Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce: Paragould, AR
  • Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce: Rogers, AR

Arizona

  • Chandler Chamber of Commerce: Chandler, AZ
  • Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce: Flagstaff, AZ
  • Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce: Phoenix, AZ
  • Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce: Lake Havasu City, AZ
  • Prescott Chamber of Commerce: Prescott, AZ
  • Tempe Chamber of Commerce: Tempe, AZ
  • Tucson Metro Chamber: Tucson, AZ

California

  • California Foundation for Commerce and Education: Sacramento, CA
  • Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce: Chino, CA
  • Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce: Murrieta, CA
  • Redding Chamber of Commerce: Redding, CA
  • San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce: San Diego, CA
  • San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership: Monrovia, CA
  • San Mateo County Economic Development Association: San Mateo, CA
  • Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce: Santa Clarita, CA
  • Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce: Yorba Linda, CA

Colorado

  • Arvada Chamber of Commerce: Arvada, CO
  • Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce: Castle Rock, CO
  • Colorado Chamber of Commerce: Denver, CO
  • Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce: Grand Junction, CO

Connecticut

  • Connecticut Business & Industry Association: Hartford, CT
  • Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce: New Haven, CT
  • ReadyCT: Hartford, CT

Delaware

  • Delaware State Chamber of Commerce: Wilmington, DE

Florida

  • Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce: Daytona Beach, FL
  • Florida Chamber of Commerce: Tallahassee, FL
  • Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Tallahassee, FL
  • Greater Fort Meyers Chamber of Commerce: Fort Meyers, FL
  • Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce: Naples, FL
  • Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce: Tallahassee, FL
  • Jackson County Chamber of Commerce: Marianna, FL
  • JAX Chamber: Jacksonville, FL
  • Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce: Kissimmee, FL
  • Lakeland Chamber of Commerce: Lakeland, FL
  • Orlando Economic Partnership: Orlando, FL
  • SWFL Inc.: Bonita Springs, FL
  • Tampa Bay Partnership: Tampa, FL

Georgia

  • Albany Area Chamber of Commerce: Albany, GA
  • Athens Area Chamber of Commerce: Athens, GA
  • Douglas County Chamber of Commerce: Douglasville, GA
  • Douglass-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce: Douglas, GA
  • Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce: Dalton, GA
  • Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce: Macon, GA
  • Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce: Atlanta, GA
  • Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce: Milledgeville, GA
  • Partnership Gwinnet/Gwinett Chamber of Commerce: Duluth, GA
  • White County Chamber of Commerce: Cleveland, GA

Hawaii

  • Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii: Honolulu, HI

Iowa

  • Greater Burlington Partnership: Burlington, IA
  • Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress: Ottumwa, IA
  • Iowa Chamber Alliance: Des Moines, IA
  • Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce: Iowa City, IA
  • Mason City Chamber of Commerce: Mason City, IA
  • Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce: Sioux Center, IA

Idaho

  • Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce: Boise, ID
  • Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce: Idaho Falls, ID
  • Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry: Boise, ID
  • Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce: Pocatello, ID

Illinois

  • Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce: Aurora, IL
  • Champaign County Chamber of Commerce: Champaign, IL
  • Mattoon in Motion: Mattoon, IL
  • DeKalb Chamber of Commerce: DeKalb, IL
  • Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street: Dixon, IL
  • Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce: Edwardsville, IL
  • Effingham County Chamber of Commerce: Effingham, IL
  • Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce: Oak Brook, IL
  • Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce: Peru, IL
  • Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce: Macomb, IL
  • Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce: Quincy, IL
  • Rockford Chamber of Commerce: Rockford, IL
  • Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce: Sterling, IL
  • Vermilion Advantage: Vermilion, IL
  • Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce: West Chicago, IL

Indiana

  • Aspire Johnson County: Greenwood, IN
  • Evansville Regional Economic Partnership: Evansville, IN
  • Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce: Kokomo, IN
  • Indiana Chamber of Commerce: Indianapolis, IN
  • Indy Chamber: Indianapolis, IN
  • Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce: Warsaw, IN
  • New Castle- Henry County Chamber of Commerce: New Castle, IN
  • Zionsville Chamber of Commerce: Zionsville, IN

Kansas

  • GO Topeka/The Greater Topeka Partnership: Topeka, KS
  • Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce: Manhattan, KS
  • Salina Area Chamber of Commerce: Salina, KS

Kentucky

  • Greater Louisville Inc.: Louisville, KY
  • Kentucky Chamber of Commerce: Frankfort, KY
  • Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Frankfort, KY
  • Kentucky Retail Institute: Frankfort, KY
  • Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce: Murray, KY
  • Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce: Pikeville, KY

Louisiana

  • Baton Rouge Area Chamber: Baton Rouge, LA
  • Bossier Chamber of Commerce: Bossier City, LA
  • Broussard Chamber of Commerce: Broussard, LA
  • Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce: Shreveport, LA
  • Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI): Baton Rouge, LA
  • Monroe Chamber of Commerce: Monroe, LA
  • Natchitoches Community Alliance: Natchitoches, LA
  • North Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce: Baton Rouge, LA
  • Tangipahoa Chamber of Commerce: Tangipahoa, LA

Massachusetts

  • Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce: Centerville, MA
  • Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce: Boston, MA
  • Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education: Boston, MA
  • North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce: Fitchburg, MA
  • Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce: Worcester, MA

Maryland

  • Harford County Chamber of Commerce: Bel Air, MD
  • Maryland Chamber of Commerce: Annapolis, MD

Maine

  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce: Augusta, ME
  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation: Augusta, ME
  • Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce: Waterville, ME
  • Retail Association of Maine/Maine Business Education Partnership: Augusta, ME

Michigan

  • Barry County Chamber and Economic Development Alliance: Hastings, MI
  • Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce: Battle Creek, MI
  • Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce: Cadillac, MI
  • Canton Chamber of Commerce: Canton, MI
  • Detroit Regional Chamber: Detroit, MI
  • Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce: Grand Rapids, MI
  • Grosse Point Chamber of Commerce: Grosse Point Farms, MI
  • Howell Area Chamber of Commerce: Howell, MI
  • Macomb County Chamber of Commerce: Mount Clemens, MI
  • Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce: Manistee, MI
  • Michigan Chamber of Commerce: Lansing, MI
  • Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce: Holland, MI
  • Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce: Mt. Pleasant, MI
  • Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce: Petoskey, MI
  • Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber: St. Joseph, MI
  • Wyoming Kentwood Chamber: Wyoming, MI

Minnesota

  • Minneapolis Regional Chamber: Minneapolis, MN
  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce: St. Paul, MN
  • RealTime Talent (Under the MN Chamber Foundation’s Center for Workforce Solutions): St. Paul, MN

Missouri

  • BioSTL: St. Louis, MO
  • Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Tany County Partnership: Branson, MO
  • Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: Kansas City, MO
  • Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Jefferson City, MO
  • Missouri Hospital Association: Jefferson City, MO

Mississippi

  • City of Jackson, Mississippi: Jackson, MS
  • Mississippi Economic Council: Jackson, MS

Montana

  • Billings Chamber of Commerce: Billings, MT
  • Discover Kalispell Chamber: Kalispell, MT
  • Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce: Great Falls, MT
  • Helena Area Chamber of Commerce: Helena, MT

North Carolina

  • Alamance Chamber: Burlington, NC
  • Garner Chamber of Commerce: Garner, NC
  • NC Chamber: Raleigh, NC
  • The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus: Concord, NC
  • Triangle East Chamber of Commerce: Smithfield, NC
  • Wake Forest Area Chamber Foundation: Wake Forest, NC
  • Wilmington Chamber of Commerce: Wilmington, NC

North Dakota

  • Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce: Fargo, ND
  • Greater North Dakota Chamber: Bismarck, ND

Nebraska

  • Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce: Columbus, NE
  • Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce: Fremont, NE

New Hampshire

  • Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce: Hampton, NH
  • Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce: Laconia, NH

New Jersey

  • New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Trenton, NJ
  • The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ): Trenton, NJ

New Mexico

  • Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce: Las Cruces, NM
  • The Bridge of Southern New Mexico: Las Cruces, NM

Nevada

  • Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce: Las Vegas, NV
  • Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board: Las Vegas, NV

New York

  • Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce: Brooklyn, NY
  • Buffalo Niagara Partnership: Buffalo, NY
  • Business Council of New York State: Albany, NY
  • Capital Region Chamber: Albany, NY
  • Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce: Rochester, NY
  • Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Staten Island, NY
  • Tioga County Economic Development & Planning: Owego, NY

Ohio

  • Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber: Cincinnati, OH
  • Columbus Chamber of Commerce: Columbus, OH
  • Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce: Dayton, OH
  • Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce: Galion, OH
  • Greater Cleveland Partnership: Cleveland, OH
  • Licking County Chamber of Commerce: Newark, OH
  • Marion Area Chamber of Commerce: Marion, OH
  • Northmont Area Chamber of Commerce: Englewood, OH
  • Ohio Chamber of Commerce: Columbus, OH
  • Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development: Mansfield, OH
  • Team NEO: Cleveland, OH
  • The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe, Trenton (OH): Middletown, OH
  • Troy Area Chamber of Commerce: Troy, OH
  • Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber: Youngstown, OH

Oklahoma

  • Ardmore Chamber of Commerce/ Development Authority: Ardmore, OK
  • The State Chamber of Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, OK

Oregon

  • Florence Area Chamber of Commerce: Florence, OR
  • Klamath County Chamber of Commerce: Klamath Falls, OR
  • Oregon Business & Industry: Salem, OR
  • The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce: The Dalles, OR

Pennsylvania

  • Bedford County Chamber of Commerce: Bedford, PA
  • Blair County Chamber of Commerce: Altoona, PA
  • Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce: Bloomsburg, PA
  • Delaware County Chamber of Commerce: Springfield, PA
  • Greater Reading Chamber Alliance: Reading, PA
  • Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce: Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce: Hanover, PA
  • Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry: Lancaster, PA
  • Lancaster County Workforce Development Board: Lancaster, PA
  • Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce: Lebanon, PA
  • Main Line Chamber of Commerce: Wayne, PA
  • North Side/Shore Chamber of Commerce: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce: Harrisburg, PA
  • Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce: Pottsville, PA
  • The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA
  • The Foundation of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce: Bloomsburg, PA
  • The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce: Scranton, PA
  • Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce: Greensburg, PA
  • York County Economic Alliance: York, PA

Rhode Island

  • Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce: Newport, RI
  • North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce: North Kingstown, RI
  • Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce: Lincoln, RI

South Carolina

  • Aiken Chamber of Commerce: Aiken, SC
  • Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce: North Charleston, SC
  • Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce: Hartsville, SC
  • Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce: Hilton Head Island, SC
  • Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: Myrtle Beach, SC
  • OneSpartanburg, Inc.: Spartanburg, SC
  • Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce: Orangeburg, SC
  • York County Regional Chamber of Commerce: Rock Hill, SC

South Dakota

  • Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce: Aberdeen, SD
  • Elevate Rapid City: Rapid City, SD
  • Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce: Sioux Falls, SD
  • Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce: Rapid City, SD

Tennessee

  • Blount Partnership: Maryville, TN
  • Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce: Bristol, TN
  • Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce: Chattanooga, TN
  • Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce: Gallatin, TN
  • Portland Chamber of Commerce: Portland, TN
  • Robertson County Chamber of Commerce: Springfield, TN
  • Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry: Nashville, TN

Texas

  • Austin Chamber of Commerce: Austin, TX
  • Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce: Dallas, TX
  • Denton Chamber of Commerce: Denton, TX
  • Greater Houston Partnership: Houston, TX
  • Greater Houston Partnership/UpSkill Houston: Houston, TX
  • Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce: Waco, TX
  • Lubbock Chamber of Commerce: Lubbock, TX
  • North Houston Association: Spring, TX
  • Rowlett Area Chamber & Visitors Center: Rowlett, TX
  • Rowlett Area Chamber of Commerce: Rowlett, TX
  • San Antonio Chamber of Commerce: San Antonio, TX
  • San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: San Antonio, TX
  • Temple Chamber of Commerce: Temple, TX
  • Waco Chamber of Commerce: Waco, TX
  • Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce: Weslaco, TX
  • Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce: Wichita Falls, TX

Utah

  • Salt Lake Chamber: Salt Lake City, UT

Virginia

  • Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce: Charlottesville, VA
  • Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce: Chesterfield, VA
  • Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce: Fredericksburg, VA
  • Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce: Fishersville, VA
  • Halifax County Chamber of Commerce: South Boston, VA
  • Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce: Roanoke, VA
  • Virginia Chamber of Commerce: Richmond, VA

Vermont

  • Vermont Business Roundtable: South Burlington, VT

Washington

  • Association of Washington Business: Olympia, WA
  • Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce: Bellingham, WA
  • Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.: Aberdeen, WA
  • Greater Spokane Inc.: Spokane, WA
  • Greater Vancouver Chamber: Vancouver, WA
  • Kent Chamber of Commerce: Kent, WA
  • Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce: Clarkston, WA
  • Renton Chamber of Commerce: Renton, WA
  • Seattle Southside Chamber: Tukwila, WA
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber: Tacoma, WA

Wisconsin

  • Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce: Wausau, WI
  • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: Milwaukee, WI
  • Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce: Mount Horeb, WI
  • Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce: Washburn, WI
  • WMC Foundation (Wisconsin’s Chamber Foundation): Madison, WI

West Virginia

  • Leadership West Virginia: Charleston, WV
  • West Virginia Chamber Foundation: Charleston, WV

Wyoming

  • Cody County Chamber of Commerce: Cody, WY
  • Platte County Chamber of Commerce: Wheatland, WY
  • Wyoming Business Council: Cheyenne, WY
  • Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce: Laramie, WY
Barb Den Herder, Cohort 1, Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce
The Business Leads Fellowship Program was one of the most impactful things I've done. The BLFP training helped me launch two career readiness programs for high school students in our area.— Barb Den Herder, Cohort 1, Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce

Fellows Portal

Business Leads Fellows can access course materials, resources, and more in our members-only portal.

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