History

History
The Bradley Regional Chamber of Commerce was formed in 2013 when the East Granby and Windsor Locks Chambers joined together. Prior to 2013, the two chambers have had a long history of community and business involvement. The Windsor Locks Chamber was incorporated on December 26, 1956. The East Granby Chamber was incorporated April 18, 1994.

Below is excerpt from Patch article, October 19, 2012:

Jared Carillo, [2012] president of the Windsor Locks Chamber of Commerce, officially announced the new organization at a business after hours event at Spring Street Service Center. The new chamber will officially begin to exist on January 1, 2013.

Carillo said there are some exciting opportunities in region for the chamber members with the creation of the Bradley Development Zone as well as development proposals in the towns. The organization will have more access to the Metro-Hartford Alliance and other groups.

The organization will also be an advocate for its members expressing their points of view to local community leaders.

"We want members to bring us their complaints, praise and concerns," Carillo said.

Carillo said the two chambers have been working on the merger since January. The organizations have suffered from a leadership vacuum but that has been solved with the new chamber. But all of the board positions, save one, have been filled, he said.

The new chamber will step back from having the kind of activities where the same 25-30 people show up to the same events and exhaust all of their networking opportunities. Carillo said the chamber wants to partner with other chambers and community organizations for charitable events.