History

Growing Greater Phoenix since 1888

For more than 130 years, the Greater Phoenix Chamber has evolved to meet the needs of the business community. Today, the Chamber is a strong pillar of the Greater Phoenix region.

Beginning in 1888

Although Arizona was not yet a state, leading business owners in the Valley of the Sun organized the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce on November 13, 1888. The Phoenix Chamber originally spearheaded efforts towards attracting more settlers to the Valley, building a railroad to tap the rich forest country to the north, building better roads, and supplying accommodations for those who traveled here for the winter sunshine.

Through over 120 years and a couple of name changes—previously known as the Phoenix Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce from 1973–1987 and becoming the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in 1998–2018—the Chamber has never wavered from its original mission: to help area businesses succeed and make the Valley a better place in which to live, work, and do business.

Phoenix Becomes the State Capitol

In 1889, the state capitol moved from Prescott to Phoenix. Even as a young organization, the Greater Phoenix Chamber showed tremendous influence and power to raise needed funds for a worthy cause. The Chamber successfully raised $3,000 (equivalent to $78,947 today) for the purchase of a plot of land that is now the historic Phoenix Indian School. This entrepreneurial group of business and professional leaders was perhaps the greatest factor in determining the location of the Arizona Territorial Capital in Phoenix. It was logical that the capital should be located in a town where there was promise and people had the vision and energy to behold it.

Growing Industries in Arizona

This time also marked the beginning of the area’s citrus and agriculture industries. The Chamber began the processing of fruits and other products to offer a permanent display for visitors as proof of what the land could produce. If agriculture were to be a permanent success in the area, water storage during the summer months would be crucial. A Chamber committee studied the possibilities of building dams on the Salt River to form reservoirs for water storage and agreed unanimously upon the present site of the Roosevelt Dam. It was through the combined efforts of these businessmen and pioneer farmers that Congress was convinced to bring into effect the plan of reclamation to capture and hold precious water from the Colorado River.

Transportation Infrastructure Paves the Way for Development

The hauling of crops to market, along with the rapidly growing change in transportation from horse-drawn vehicles to motor travel, created an insistent urge for a paved highway system. That development birthed an expansion of the urban area, building of fine country homes, subdivisions, more schools, more people, and more wealth. Additionally, Maricopa County became the leader, not only in Arizona but throughout the nation, in building paved highways. The ease and comfort of traveling over paved highways brought more fine hotels, guest ranches on the city’s outskirts, and an awakened consciousness to the possibilities of selling the climate to people who lived in less favorable parts of the country. This, in turn, led to the development of the National Advertising Campaign, sponsored by the Chamber and supported jointly by Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix.

Statehood

Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912. After World War II, the area’s growth spurt began and returning soldiers flocked to the area for its great weather and employment opportunities. The Greater Phoenix Chamber saw a tremendous opportunity to promote Arizona as not only a fun-in-the-sun vacation destination but an affordable place to work and raise a family.

Extending Our Reach

Today, the valley is home to more than four million people. The Greater Phoenix Chamber is the largest association of businesses in the state of Arizona and one of the largest in the Southwestern United States, with more than 2,400 business members.

To amplify the Chamber’s voice and impact on the business community, the Chamber created a Political Action Committee (PAC) in 1978 to vet candidates and issues. For more than 40 years, the Chamber’s PAC has identified and supported pro-business candidates for state and local offices, regardless of political affiliation.

Growing the Economy from Within

In 2015, the Chamber launched Phoenix Forward, a collaborative and strategic approach to economic development. In partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County, this innovative program connects with and supports local businesses in targeted industry sectors that are poised for growth.

In 2016, the Greater Phoenix Chamber launched the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (the Foundation). The Foundation furthers the Chamber’s mission by conducting research, forming partnerships, and hosting events focused on education, workforce development, and community wellness.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber, like the Valley of the Sun, has come a long way.