The Kenosha Chamber of Commerce was formed on June 21, 1916, by members of the Kenosha Retailers Association who wanted a more broadly based, city-wide organization than their own. With the formation of the Chamber the Kenosha Retailers Association disbanded. Its former members, plus others who joined during an initial membership drive, resulted in the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce having a membership of 875 when it began operations. During its early years the Chamber was actively involved in city planning, the construction of a hotel for Kenosha, and the problems of city transportation. However, by 1926 the organization was beset by financial and membership problems. In an effort to revitalize the Chamber a “Kenosha Forward Movement” committee was formed. In November 1927, it sponsored a four-day membership campaign which resulted in 1057 individuals and businesses pledging 42,000 dollars to the Chamber. A new constitution and by-laws were drafted and adopted by the membership on December 15, 1927; these reorganized the group into four operational bureaus: Industrial, Commercial, Civic, and Publicity and Convention.
The expanded membership, improved financial base, and new constitution allowed the Chamber to expand the range of its activities. In 1928 it printed its first newsletter and affiliated with the United States Chamber of Commerce. The following year the Chamber helped organize the Wisconsin State Chamber of Commerce. Its Credit Bureau, a holdover from the old Kenosha Retailers Association, provided credit information and service to its members. Over the years the Chamber proved instrumental in helping Kenosha attract conventions, stage retail promotions, develop its harbor, build an airport, move Carthage College to the city, lobby for the construction of Bong Air Force Base in Kenosha County, and encourage the industrial development of the area. In 1954 the Chamber organized the Kenosha Industrial Development Foundation, Inc. to provide information about Kenosha to industries thinking of relocating.
As a result of another reorganization, today the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce is operated by a Board of Directors, an Executive Committee, and an Executive Secretary. Members of the Board are elected by and from the general membership. (Previously they were elected from geographical divisions, and after the 1927 reorganization, from one of the three membership categories--manufacturer, professional, or general.) The Board members elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer from their own ranks to serve as an Executive Committee. To provide continuity from year to year is the role of the Executive Secretary who handles the day-to-day operation of the Chamber and advises the Board as to the directions the organization should take. Ten standing committees (Civic Affairs, Congressional Action, Convention, Credit Bureau, Education, Executive, Legislative, Public Relations, Retail, and Transportation) are responsible for the Chamber's affairs. Within this framework the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce continues to promote the economic and commercial development of the area.
