Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire Chambers Plan Merger

The Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce is proposing to merge with the Greater Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce to help “provide new synergies and opportunities for businesses in all of the surrounding communities,” the Buffalo Grove chamber has announced to its members.

Both chambers’ boards of directors have already agreed to the merger. Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce members will vote on the proposal during the holiday lunch meeting Dec. 3 at the Arboretum Club.

The joint organization would be known as the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce (BGLCC). 

“We share two school districts and we share a library district, and our borders intermingle a lot, so there’s a lot we have going that will make us a stronger voice for a businesses in our area. We think it will be a win-win for both chambers,” said Lynne Schneider, executive director of the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

The combined chamber would include members of both existing chambers on its new board of directors and executive committee. Its headquarters would be at the current Buffalo Grove office, 50 ½ Raupp Boulevard.

The merger would bring the chamber’s membership to about 400. Buffalo Grove currently has about 275 members, who would be joined by 150 in Lincolnshire. About 30 members currently belong to both chambers, Schneider said.

“I think most of our chamber members will relish the idea of having new businesses to work with,” she said. “I think it will be a boost to our community.”

The proposed agreement also states that the joint chamber will continue to hold the annual Taste of Lincolnshire event in July. Schneider said a merger also would not affect any of the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce’s signature events. It also won't affect the chamber's staff. The Lincolnshire chamber is between directors and currently only has an office contractor on staff, Schneider said.

If approved next week, leaders of the two chambers will meet soon after to begin planning the merger, Schneider said. That process would likely take about six months, during which time the two organizations’ budgets, bylaws and websites would be combined.