Meadowlands Chamber (MC) celebrated the opening of its 7,000 square-foot new MCHQ facility with an official ribbon-cutting on Friday, November 15. The new facility is designed to support the economic growth of the region’s diverse businesses, including its 1,200 current members, so the MC can become the “Chamber of the Future.”
MC President and CEO Jim Kirkos and the Chamber’s 2040 Foundation began developing plans in 2017 in response to a study by American Chambers of Commerce Executives Association ( ACCE ) indicating that long-term sustainability for local chambers relies on small- and medium-sized businesses having access to the same resources that larger businesses have internally.
The new MCHQ is among the first in the country and the only one enhanced with an adjoining Visitor Center.
The new location at 1099 Wall Street in Lyndhurst will now be home to the MC’s executive offices, the Meadowlands Live! | Visitor Center, Ideation Zones, Huddle Rooms, a podcast studio and video conference suites for networking and collaborations. It will also host the Meadowlands 2040 Foundation Innovation Learning Center, a 75 high-tech room which will allow unique learning programs in collaboration with the regions colleges and universities.
“The ACCE study really made us think deeply about how best to serve our members in the future. How to elevate start-ups, small and mid-sized companies with resources typically not accessible.” said Mr. Kirkos. “This facility is not just the first of its kind in New Jersey; it may be one of the first in the entire country and we’re really proud to share it with all our current and future members.”
Anthony Guzzo of Guzzo & Guzzo Architects helped to create the design plans for the new space and dancker manufactured the interior modular wall systems with built-in technology capabilities along with Safari Solutions.
The Chamber succeeded in raising the needed $500,000 to build out the space through an MCHQ Capital Campaign to create the “Chamber of the Future.” Early supporters of this initiative are members: PSEG Foundation, American Dream Meadowlands, Meadowlands Racetrack, Hackensack Meridian Health, Goya Foods, Hartz Mtn, NJM, Horizon BCBS, Quest Diagnostics, Mazars, Kearny Bank, Edison Properties, WSP, Guzzo & Guzzo Architects, Felician College, Sharing Network, Scarinci & Hollenbeck, McGowan Builders, Eastwick College, Berkeley College, 16W Marketing and The Meadowlands 2040 Foundation, Inc,
For more information about becoming a member of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, visit www.meadowlands.org or call (201) 939-0707.
