Our Story
Who We Are
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is a membership association with a dual mandate: helping our members grow their businesses, and ensuring New York City remains the world's most dynamic and opportunity-rich place to do business.
We advocate for the 125,000+ businesses across Manhattan—the engine of New York's economy. From local storefronts to global headquarters, these businesses together employ 2.4 million people and generate more than $1 trillion in annual GDP. We fight to ensure this engine keeps running.
Our Foundation + Community Benefit Fund support small business growth by delivering critical technical assistance, educational programming, and direct financial resources that empower entrepreneurs—particularly those in underserved communities—to build resilient, thriving enterprises.
Our Mission
To power individual business growth through connection and innovation, while advocating for the smart, inclusive policies that allow commerce to thrive in New York City's changing economy.
What We Do
In a complex and changing New York, the Manhattan Chamber acts as the bridge between commerce, community, and government. We provide the stability businesses need to take risks and the support they need to succeed.
Political Advocacy + Influence - We work directly with City Hall and Albany to ensure the economic engine of New York keeps running. Rather than just fighting battles, we facilitate constructive dialogue with elected officials to shape smart, practical policies that reduce red tape and foster affordability. We ensure the voice of business is heard not just as an interest group, but as the foundation of the city’s health.
High-Impact Networking - We believe that relationships are the currency of growth. Through a dynamic calendar of events—from intimate roundtables to borough-wide summits—we bring together solo entrepreneurs, mid-sized firms, and corporate leaders. We create the environments where contacts turn into contracts and neighbors become partners.
Intel + Resources for Success - We help our members navigate the "cost of doing business." From expert legal and financial workshops to one-on-one technical assistance, we provide the toolkit companies need to adapt to market shifts, digitize their operations, and scale efficiently in a high-stakes economy.
Guiding Manhattan’s Future - We do more than serve individual businesses; we steward the borough’s brand. We champion initiatives that attract global talent and tourism while revitalizing local commercial corridors. We respond to New York City's evolving needs through coalition-building and creating/testing innovative solutions. We also provide data and new ideas to guide policy-making. By fostering a diverse and competitive economy, we ensure Manhattan remains a place where opportunity thrives for everyone.
Become A Member
Join us and become part of the influential network that is shaping the future of commerce in New York City.
Our History
The Chamber traces its roots to 1920, when it was incorporated as the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce. It was founded by 11 prominent merchants in Yorkville, an Upper East Side neighborhood that was then a hub for German immigrants.
Established in the wake of World War I, the Chamber sought to counteract the anti-German sentiment spreading across the U.S. by strictly focusing on local economic growth. Their mission was “to foster and improve the trade and commerce of Yorkville…and to promote the prosperity and general welfare thereof.”
Over the decades, the organization’s scope grew significantly—expanding first to Mid-East Manhattan, then Mid-Manhattan, and finally, in 1997, encompassing the entire borough as the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. To further support the borough, the Chamber established its Community Benefit Fund in 1994 and its Foundation in 1998.
