"Know Your Org" is an informational series designed to spotlight some of the wonderful organizations in our community. This month, we are highlighting the Canton Chamber of Commerce.
Almost everyone has heard of the Chamber of Commerce, but many people don’t know what it does.
Officially, it is a membership-driven organization with the primary goal of ensuring that the business community in Canton remains economically vibrant. But you might be surprised by how many different programs they run and all that they do for not just the local businesses but the community at large.
“If our business community is strong,” said Thomas Paden, President of Canton Township Chamber of Commerce, “it means that our tax base is strong, which means we have a really healthy and economically stable community for our residents who live, play and do business here.”
Programs they run include workshops, networking events, a Made in Michigan CEO speaker series, a sustainability project and a community gift certificate program. They also have Canton Chamber University, which provides education programs including professional and personal development, and Leadership Canton, which is designed to connect, educate and empower business leaders and residents.
However, the biggest advantage of being a Chamber member is its many networking events. They have after-hours and morning coffee events where members can make personal connections and receive referrals from one another. Members are also included in a member directory in the first quarter edition of Canton Today Magazine, which reaches over 40,000 homes and businesses.
“We have speed of light connections,” explained Thomas. “We provide the business community with a platform to grow a grassroots network. If you are looking to grow and get added exposure for your business, the Chamber is like your one-stop shop where you can get integrated into your community and enhance your brand recognition within the community.”
Another thing the Chamber provides is ribbon-cutting ceremonies for businesses moving into the area. “This has been an unprecedented year for us in terms of Grand Openings and new businesses moving into the area,” said Thomas. “It’s probably the most I’ve seen in my 13-year tenure with the organization.”
Being located in the Canton Township administration building has strengthened the relationship with the township government and strengthened the Chamber’s advocacy efforts. The Chamber is always advocating for the local business community. This has seamlessly allowed them to help businesses, whether they are just starting here or relocating here. Part of that process is making sure new businesses understand the ordinances here—what they can and can’t do. That benefits everyone.
One of the newer initiatives is launching the sustainability project in partnership with Canton Township. It involves assessing how businesses are engaging with the environment.
“If their sustainability practices are really good, they’re going to start rewarding businesses,” Thomas shared. "To help, we’ll provide them with a resource library—in both print and digital format—to help them compete with businesses that are environmentally sustainable.”
Several new initiatives are on the horizon. One is a Small Business Hub, where local businesses can tap into a network of educational resources, putting them in contact with subject matter experts who can help them successfully launch a business. For those already in business, there will be an educational track to help them scale, grow or even sell their business.
Another initiative in the works is the creation of a Canton Chamber foundation, which will be called Canton Forward. Talent and innovation will be two pillars of the new foundation. It will involve workforce development to invest in talent and keep talent locally, so businesses have a talent pipeline of well-trained, qualified people to tap into when they have open job positions.
The Chamber also holds fundraising events. On August 8, 2025, they will hold their annual golf outing at Pheasant Run. Then, on October 3, 2025, they will hold their big gala fundraiser at Phoenix Mill. Finally, they will round out the year with one of their newest events, the Canton People’s Choice Awards.
“It’s very similar to the Vote for the Best some local media outlets do,” explained Thomas. “We have between 20 and 25 different business categories on the ballot that we distribute to the community. The community then votes for the best: their favorite restaurants and favorite businesses in each category. On November 13, we will announce the winners at the Village Theater. It’s like a red-carpet event with photos and all the awards being distributed. It’s a night of celebration for all local businesses.”
If you want to keep up with everything the Canton Township Chamber of Commerce is doing, you can check out their programs and events page or sign up for their monthly newsletter. If you’re looking for work or have job openings to post, you can go to their career center page.
“After we had recently celebrated our 50th anniversary, we wanted to be very intentional about laying a solid foundation to ensure that the next 50 years of this organization will be one that is solid,” Thomas concluded, “and that we can really enter into the future continuing to serve the great community of Canton Township.”
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