Washington County Chamber brings back networking events, announces vision for "a new chapter"

A Community Posting by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is inviting local business owners, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to attend a special networking meeting and launch party celebrating "A New Chapter for a New Chamber".

Taking place on Thursday, August 27, the event will be centered around a renewed goal of community activity, stronger relationships with businesses, and a more streamlined membership structure.

The meeting will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mosier Family Chiropractic, 1110 W. Mulberry St. in Salem, with doors opening at noon. Lunch will be provided.

During the event, Chamber leadership will officially unveil the organization’s new investment-based membership model and share its broader vision for supporting businesses while providing more events and programs throughout Washington County.

"For years, the Chamber has operated under a model that required our members to further support us through repeated sponsorship requests throughout the year, while simultaneously offering membership benefits that often weren't being utilized," said Jacob Dufour, who became the Chamber's new Executive Director in October of 2025. "Over the past several months, we've listened to community feedback, researched how other chambers operate, and developed a completely new philosophy on how to exist as an organization.

"We believe this new model will simplify everything, allowing us to spend less time fundraising and more time doing what matters most, which is supporting local businesses and creating programs and events that strengthen our community."

The event is open to both members and non-members. Current members, former members, and business owners who have considered joining the Chamber are all encouraged to attend.

In addition to the presentation, the meeting marks the return of the Chamber’s monthly networking gatherings, which are designed to foster collaboration and relationship-building among local professionals.

"One of the most common requests I've heard since last October was to bring back regular networking opportunities," said Dufour. "I'm very excited about it... bringing these monthly meetings back will give our members a consistent opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together."

Event Details at a Glance:

Thursday, August 27, 2026

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (Doors open at 12:00 PM)

Mosier Family Chiropractic (New Location)

1110 W Mulberry St., Salem, IN 47167

Lunch will be provided.

Attendance for the event is free, but RSVPs are requested by August 20. To RSVP, email Director@WashingtonCountyChamber.org.

For more information about the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and upcoming events, visit the Chamber’s website or follow the organization on social media.