Industry Councils
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce's cross-industry councils and peer groups serve as a powerful platform for our members to connect, learn from one another, and directly influence and shape the future of New York City.
Manhattan Economic Council
The Manhattan Economic Council is an invitation-only group of senior leaders representing a cross-section of businesses with a significant Manhattan footprint. Convened by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Council provides a confidential forum to share real-time perspective on Manhattan’s business conditions and to identify practical solutions that strengthen the borough’s economic competitiveness.
The Council’s focus is pragmatic and solutions-oriented: supporting a healthy business climate, strengthening small business vitality, improving quality-of-life and operations, and ensuring Manhattan remains a place where businesses and workers can thrive.
The Government Affairs Council (GAC) is the engine of the Chamber's political advocacy, serving as our frontline for legislative intelligence and tactical advice. Comprised of a diverse group of member leaders, the BAC meets monthly to monitor critical issues at the city, state, and federal levels.
The committee is responsible for analyzing emerging legislation, recommending official policy positions for the Chamber, and advising on the advocacy tactics needed for success. Through this essential work, the GAC ensures the voice of the Manhattan business community at City Hall and in Albany is strategic, unified, and effective.
This feature is available to Chamber members at the Industry Insider or Chairman's Circle level (so not available to other members).
The Chamber’s Tech and Innovation Circle curates intimate events that provide intel and high-level networking to growth-stage company founders in the three sectors driving New York City’s innovation economy: life sciences, tech, and the green economy. Current activities include:
- Curated discussions. In 2025, the group partnered with Mastercard's NYC Tech Hub to examine the innovative ways that CEOs and founders are already using AI. A key speaker was Danny Boockvar, CEO of Five Iron Golf. In 2024, the group curated three sit-down morning meetings for ~50 attendees each on the following topics:
- The Future of NYC’s Entrepreneurial Tech Industry
- Capital Summit on The Skyline: Exploring Funding Sources for Growth
- Climate Week NYC: Climate Leadership and Sustainable Infrastructure
- Founders Lounge mixers. These evening mixers feature high-level guest speakers in a relaxing lounge environment. About 75 attendees. In 2025, the group hosted an exclusive event with Celebrity Chef Marcus Sammuelsson at one of his Manhattan-based restaurants.
The group's co-chairs are Jason Dodier, CCO & Co-Founder of GRAIN EcoSystem and Jay Norris, CEO & Co-Founder of Guesst. Both are Chamber Board members.
Chamber membership level required to participate: Business Builder, Business Booster, Industry insider, or Chairman's Circle (NOT included at Networker membership level).
The Chamber's NYC Business Builders Connect group is a vital peer-to-peer community for members actively growing their ventures in New York City. This dynamic group meets online each month in a confidential and collaborative setting to share valuable insights, tackle pressing challenges, and learn directly from one another's firsthand experiences. It is a dedicated space designed to foster mutual support and accountability, helping NYC entrepreneurs solve problems faster, build stronger professional networks, and navigate the journey of business growth together.
This feature is available to Chamber members at the Business Builder level or above (so not available to Networker members).
The Chamber's Storefront Business Coalition is dedicated to improving the policymaking process in New York City by sharing the stories of our neighborhood entrepreneurs. We seek to educate public officials on the realities of running a storefront business and foster a deeper, more empathetic understanding of how policy impacts our communities.
The Coalition Co-Chairs are Deborah Koenigsberger, owner of Noir et Blanc and Hearts of Gold, and Patrick Hall, owner of Élan Flowers. Both are on the Chamber's Board of Directors.
Learn more here.