The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the prestigious 4-Star Accreditation designation to the Minot Area Chamber EDC in recognition of its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.

“Earning the Accreditation designation is an extraor-dinary accomplishment and a mark of excellence for a chamber’s organization, staff, and leadership,” said Raymond P. Towle, Vice President, Federation Relations and Coalition Partnerships at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Achieving Accreditation reflects the completion of a comprehensive and challenging evaluation — an extensive, rigorous review of a chamber’s policies, operations, and programming — as well as its leadership and impact in the community. This distinction recognizes chambers of commerce representing the very best of our industry and validates their role as advocates for their business communities. Accredited chambers demonstrate strong leadership, transparent governance practices, and an unwavering commitment to delivering impactful programs and services that help make their regions a place where workers, busines-ses, and citizens can thrive.”

“Earning 4-Star Accreditation is a significant recognition of the work our board and team do every day to advocate for and invest in business activity across the Minot area,” said Brekka Kramer, President | CEO of the Minot Area Chamber EDC. “Our vision is to be the go-to organization for our business community to drive key initiatives that build and strengthen our economy. This designation affirms that we are focusing on the policies, partnerships, and programs needed to achieve that vision. We’re grateful for this recognition by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

The U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program facilitates continuing excellence in the chamber industry and fosters a pro-business environment across America. To receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in its operations and programs, including areas of governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, communications, and technology. This extensive self-review can take six to nine months to complete.

Local and regional chambers are rated “Accredited,” “Accredited with 3 Stars,” “Accredited with 4 Stars,” or “Accredited with 5 Stars.” State chambers are rated “Accredited State Chamber” or “Accredited State Chamber with Distinction.” The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber of Commerce board members and qualified chamber CEOs from across the country.

This designation recognizes the Minot Area Chamber EDC as a leader in the chamber industry and affirms its ongoing commitment to serving as a resource to local businesses and advocating for a strong business community.