Come on—Get to know us!  

We're the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, your time-tested small business collective. We’re here to help you get connected in the community, to nourish and grow your business, and to help you take advantage of all our area has to offer. 

The Chamber Collaborative's six foundational pillars are the building blocks that define us and our service to the Seacoast business community. We invite you to join us to connect, educate, collaborate, advocate, market and build community—as together we make the Greater Portsmouth area a better, more prosperous place to live, work and play.  

We're tasked with leading the greater Portsmouth business community as convener of people, businesses, and organizations, through communication, education, support, advocacy, and cooperative opportunities. And we’re ready for it! 

The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth is a 501c6 organization registered under our legal name, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

Mission

Our mission is to lead the greater Portsmouth business community as a convener of people, businesses, and organizations, through innovative and responsive communication, education, advocacy, and collaborative opportunities. - Adopted February 26, 2024.

Vision

Realize a diverse City of the Open Door by empowering and advocating for the greater Portsmouth business community creating a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. - Adopted February 26, 2024.

Diversity 

In principle and practice, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth supports efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all aspects of life in the greater Portsmouth community as we strive to live up to Portsmouth’s legacy as the City of the Open Door.  

We work to create a welcoming environment for all regardless of race, color, ethnicity or place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran or marital status, physical or mental ability or disability, religion or socioeconomics.  

The Chamber Collaborative can only be enhanced by incorporating a diverse range of experiences and perspectives into the business community, its membership, board, and staff.  

- Adopted May 18, 2023

Legislative Priorities 

WORKFORCE 

• Encourages innovative workforce development in partnership with K-12 Career Technical Education programs, critical industries, the University System of NH and Community College System of NH
• Supports increased funding for public K-12 programs, the University System of NH, and Community College System of NH
• Continue to restore the J-1 Visa exchange visitor program to pre-pandemic levels to provide short term staffing relief during the busy summer months
• Expand the development, availability, and affordability of quality childcare opportunities for working families
• Supports efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of life in Portsmouth. Fostering a welcoming environment for all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity or place of origin, sexual orientation, and gender to enhance the “City of the Open Door” legacy

HEALTHCARE 

• Supports increasing capacity and funding for mental health services
• Support policies and funding to enhance substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that ensure a healthier workforce

 
HOUSING 

• Support the development of diverse housing types across Portsmouth, the Seacoast region, and the state to address the needs of our workforce across all income levels.
• Encourage the City of Portsmouth to maximize available resources and tools to expedite workforce housing creation by eliminating unnecessary barriers, enhancing regulatory efficiencies, and
  streamlining approval processes.
• Support the adoption and expansion of tax credits, public-private partnerships, community land trusts, and other creative funding models to incentivize and accelerate the development of workforce housing.

ECONOMY 

• Supports investment by local communities, the State of New Hampshire and private businesses in a regional mass transit system and other efforts to enhance infrastructure and reduce congestion
• Encourages continued investment in the Port of New Hampshire
• Supports maintaining any policies that would increase funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism and funding of the state Joint Promotional Program
• Supports enabling legislation to permit municipalities to impose a local occupancy tax that significantly funds tourism promotion on the local level

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 

• Supports efforts to further reduce carbon emissions, modernize the grid, and keep energy prices as affordable as possible
• Encourage the development of diverse energy sources to create a resilient and sustainable system
• Strengthen our downtown economy through investment in infrastructure including additional EV charging locations

Legislative Priorities Adopted by the Board of Directors

December 12, 2024