- This event has passed.
New Office Grand Opening
November 19 @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
New Office Suite houses Southern Ocean Chamber and affiliate 501c3 organization
As one of the oldest, continuously operated chambers of commerce in New Jersey, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce continues to plan so it is available to provide services when needed. Providing assistance to generations from interest in moving or vacationing, to opening a business to investment and answering throughout a crisis such as Superstorm Sandy and Covid Pandemic. This Spring, we launched a planning survey that featured in person appointments and online forms. This survey is an important part of the plan as the organization looks for programs and impact to anticipate our coastal business needed for 2030. The regional chamber been using strategic planning methods so it can stay ahead of the trends, adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the community, all major storm recoveries and the changing business landscape. One example was the success of the Vision 2020 plan that began in 2018 and was presented in the fall of 2019. It allowed the chamber to prepare for high impact changes in the digital world, investing in the platforms that were needed to keep the chamber in the forefront of communications and trusted resources during the pandemic and recovery periods. The Southern Ocean Chamber board and staff received statewide and county recognitions for their efforts in providing the businesses and visitor unwavering support during the most crucial times.
The board statement reflects on the time and consideration taking before making their most recent move:
“Whether we have used the name LBI Board of Trade, Long Beach Island-Stafford Chamber or our current Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, we have always put emphasis on preparing for the future. In direct response to the evolving landscape, we are embarking on the strategic relocation of our chamber offices to better serve the growing business community.
Beginning in 2022, our board leaders engaged in substantive dialogues with Atlantic City Electric, addressing broader, strategic efforts to strengthen and modernize the energy grid serving South Jersey. This effort includes dozens of targeted projects, including those in Long Beach Island, to harden critical energy infrastructure and build a more resilient grid to prevent those outages that can be prevented. After thorough consideration, we’ve determined that the location of our current property, which is next to the main power supply, is optimally suited. This relocation is part of our comprehensive planning for 21st century resiliency.
This move underscores commitment dating back to 1914 to evolve, improve and foster sustainable progress. The much-needed expansion will ensure that with the development on the island; residents’ lights will remain on, businesses may operate seamlessly, and critical services will continue to function when needed most.
Our new office in Stafford Township positions us at the crossroads of business, where our board and staff are accessible to community leaders, entrepreneurs, and new residents of Southern Ocean County. As the vast majority of our services are digital, there has been no disruption to our assistance.”
Regarding the growth in popularity of the virtual visitor center and continued support to services, the Board of Directors and Staff share an additional message:
VisitLBIregion.com has been the established go-to hub for visitors, residents, and businesses seeking the latest information, directories, and updates for our coastal community as the central communication center, housing our event calendar, NJ Coastal Newsroom and the LBI Region Report Podcast series library.
While the building has faithfully served us for over thirty years, nearly all visitor center services are now managed through online communication, messaging, social platforms, web presence and phone calls. Having been closed to public and for chamber business use only from March 2020 to May 2024, this past summer saw declining in person visits, while digital requests continue to soar.
As one of the chamber’s programs, the official visitor center of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce is an initiative that has been entirely funded through the efforts of our organization, operating at no cost to taxpayers.
As we look to a resilient future, we are happy to continue our 110 years of uninterrupted service. Our new Stafford Township office is available for assistance Monday through Friday 10am – 4pm, by calling 609-494-7211, online at VisitLBIregion.com and on social media as @southernoceanchamber @LBIregion. The new location for Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and Southern Ocean Chamber Association is at 703 Mill Creek Road, Suite G Manahawkin, NJ 08050
As October’s calendar is filled with business and seasonal events, please note that Local, County, State and Chamber officials will set a ribbon cutting and networking event for chamber and community members at the new location in November.
