Salem Street Business Association Will Merge with Chamber
Story updated 9:30AM Wednesday, September 5, 2007
– Allison Goldsberry
According to Salem Street Business Association President Betsy Lister, the SSBA will merge with the Medford Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of the year.
The SSBA will take a final vote on the proposal at its September 26 meeting. The idea for the merger was first floated in the early summer when it became apparent that no one could take on the responsibilities of running the organization once Lister’s term ended.
Both the Chamber and SSBA see the merger as a win-win for Medford’s business community. Though there is already overlap between the two groups in members and leadership, combining forces will increase the Chamber’s membership by 100 and will broaden the business districts it represents.
The SSBA has disbursed its funds among several local and national charities, including the Medford Family Network, Medford Saving Lives, Friends of Francis, Shelter, Inc., and the Buddy Coholan Center. The group will also fund two scholarships- a $1,000 one for the next two years and the Tom Convery Scholarship, a $1,500 award for a student pursuing a career in education, for the next five years.
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