Connect Macomb

What Connect Macomb does

Connect Macomb is a non-profit Chamber of Commerce headquartered at 12900 Hall Road, Suite 100, Sterling Heights, Michigan, serving businesses across Macomb County. Founded in 1961 as the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, it has operated continuously for over 60 years through two prior brand iterations before adopting its current name in 2023. The organization is run by a nine-person staff supported by a Board of Directors and ambassadors.

Its core offerings are a diversified membership program rather than a unified software product. Member-facing programs include the trademarked BRAG referral networking system (six weekly groups, in operation since 1999), the Connection Newsletter (bi-weekly, 4,000+ recipients), YoPros for young professionals aged 21–40, the Women Business Alliance / ConnectHER mastermind, and a roster of networking events (Breakfast & Business, Business After Hours, The Learning Exchange). Supporting benefits include a member job bank, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and a partner-benefit stack anchored by Hub 365 (savings via Office Depot/ODP and Abenity), plus affinity relationships with Constant Contact, Comcast Business, Accident Fund, Clover, C&G Newspapers, and Dream Vacations.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues, with secondary streams from BRAG enrollment ($100 per group), event sponsorships (Golf Outings, Food Truck Rallies, Healthy Living Expos, Patios & Pints), enhanced directory listings, paid newsletter insertions (Hot Deals at $5/week or $15/month), and partner programs. Distribution is direct, via phone, email, and the website's online application portal, supported by member referrals. The organization is geographically restricted to Macomb County, is privately held with no parent company or external investors, and operates with no disclosed AI/technology differentiation beyond commodity membership and event-management tooling.

Name

Connect Macomb

Legal name

Connect Macomb

Website

https://connectmacomb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connect Macomb is a non-profit Chamber of Commerce serving Macomb County, Michigan, offering membership-based business networking, the trademarked BRAG referral program, sub-brands for young professionals and women business owners, and a member newsletter reaching 4,000+ recipients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Chamber Membership Fees: Connect Macomb generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees paid by businesses in Macomb County. Membership provides access to networking events, directory listings, member discounts, job bank access, and referral programs.
2. BRAG Membership: Business Resource Alliance Groups (BRAG) charge a nominal fee of $100 for members to join structured referral networking groups.
3. Event Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor chamber events including Golf Outings, Food Truck Rallies, Healthy Living Expos, and Patios & Pints. Event sponsorship provides visibility and brand exposure for sponsors.
4. Hot Deals and Newsletter Advertising: Members can pay to post Hot Deals in the bi-weekly newsletter ($5/week or $15/month). Members receive six complimentary news postings annually; additional postings generate revenue.
5. Enhanced Directory Listings: While basic directory listings are included with membership, enhanced listings with additional visibility and features are available for purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connect Macomb is a nonprofit Chamber of Commerce serving businesses in Macomb County, Michigan. Its core offering is annual business membership that provides access to networking events, a member directory listing, the BRAG (Business Resource Alliance Groups) referral networking program, exclusive member-to-member discounts through partners such as Hub 365, a member job bank, ribbon cutting promotion, and advocacy on behalf of the local business community.

Product overview

Connect Macomb operates as a Chamber of Commerce serving Macomb County, Michigan. Rather than a unified software platform, it offers a portfolio of membership-based programs and services including networking groups (BRAG, YoPros, Women Business Alliance), networking events (Breakfast & Business, Business After Hours), The Connection Newsletter, Member Job Bank, Community Impact Day volunteer initiative, and various partner benefit programs (Hub 365, Constant Contact, Clover). The organization rebranded from Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce to Connect Macomb in 2023. The portfolio centers on business networking, referrals, member discounts, and community engagement rather than a traditional product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRAG (Business Resource Alliance Groups): A trademarked referral networking program launched in 1999, providing structured networking groups for members to build business relationships and pass referrals.
• ConnectHER
• YoPros
• The Connection Newsletter

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Program Annual business membership providing exclusive customer referrals through the chamber network, member directory listing, member-to-member discounts (Hub 365), job bank access, networking events, and partner program access. Designed for local businesses in Macomb County, Michigan.
• BRAG (Business Resource Alliance Groups) Structured weekly referral networking program where members grow business through relationships and trusted referrals. Six groups (Business is Brewing, Coffee & Commerce, Open For Business, Success United Network, Traveling Tuesday, Unwined) meet at various times for a $100 per-group annual fee.
• Member Coupons & Hot Deals Exclusive member-only promotional deals available through the member portal. Members may post Hot Deals in the bi-weekly Connection Newsletter for $5 per week or $15 per month, with six complimentary postings per membership year.
• Event Sponsorships Sponsorship opportunities for Connect Macomb's annual events including Patios & Pints, Dodge Park Food Truck Rally, Healthy Living Expo, and Golf Outing, providing visibility and brand exposure for sponsoring businesses.
• Hub 365 Member Savings Program No-cost member benefit providing access to discounted business services, office supplies, travel, technology, and dining through partnership with Hub 365, including Office Depot OfficeMax business pricing and Abenity everyday discounts. Designed to offset the cost of chamber membership.
• Partner Discount Programs Bundle of exclusive member discounts across partner vendors: merchant services (Clover), email marketing (Constant Contact up to 25% off), phone and internet (Comcast Business), workers compensation insurance (Accident Fund 5% up-front discount), newspaper advertising (C & G Newspapers), travel (Dream Vacations), and office supplies (Office Depot). Designed for member businesses seeking reduced operating costs.
• Community Impact Day Sponsorship Program County-wide volunteer initiative uniting businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and community members for service projects in Macomb County. Connect Macomb's 2026 event mobilized nearly 400 volunteers contributing more than $40,000 in community service value, with sponsorship opportunities for participating businesses and nonprofits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 in member revenue generated through BRAG referral program since 1999
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hub 365coreGTM or Marketing PartnerConnect Macomb has partnered with Hub 365 to bring members savings on business services, office supplies, travel, technology, dining, and more. The partnership includes access to business pricing from Office Depot OfficeMax and discounts on everyday essentials from Abenity. Hub 365 savings can offset the entire cost of chamber membership.
• Advancing MacombcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvancing Macomb partners with Connect Macomb for Community Impact Day, bringing the initiative back to Macomb County for the second year to unite businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and community members for volunteer service.
• Anchor Bay Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor Bay Chamber of Commerce partners with Connect Macomb and Advancing Macomb to bring Community Impact Day to Macomb County, part of a collaborative statewide model.
• Michigan West Coast Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally launched by Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce in 2022, Community Impact Day inspired Connect Macomb to launch its own county-wide volunteer initiative.
• Accident FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkers compensation insurance partner offering members 5% up-front discount on premium and potential dividends based on Group's loss history.
• CloverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerchant services partner offering members free rate review, complementary merchant account, and discounts on equipment.
• Constant ContactminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmail marketing partner offering members up to 25% off with exclusive chamber member discount.
• Comcast BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhone and internet services partner offering special pricing on business packages for employer members.
• C & G NewspapersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper partner offering members Buy One Ad, Get One Free promotion.
• Angela Jones Dream VacationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel partner offering members access to cruise and land vacation deals, top pricing, and customer service through Chamber's Travel Perks Program.
• Office Depot / ODPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffice supplies partner offering members discount on purchases with free shipping on orders over $50.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BNI (Business Network International): BNI is the largest business referral networking organization globally, with structured weekly referral groups that closely mirror Connect Macomb's BRAG program. Both monetize professional relationship-building through recurring membership fees and rely on consistent meeting attendance to drive member ROI.

Regional players

• Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce: Adjacent Oakland County chamber with similar suburban Detroit SMB focus, comparable member benefits structure, and similar revenue model (dues, events, sponsorships). Provides direct competition for SMBs along the Macomb-Oakland county border.
• Troy Chamber of Commerce: Nearby Oakland County chamber serving a similar suburban Detroit SMB base with overlapping member categories (professional services, retail, dining). Directly competes for members who live in one county but operate in both, and shares the same Hub 365-style discount partnerships.
• Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce: Michigan-based chamber with similar community chamber model and SMB focus, but serving a more tech-and-education-driven economy. Useful comparable for chamber operating benchmarks and event programming strategies.
• Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce: Mid-Michigan regional chamber serving a similar mix of SMBs, mid-market firms, and enterprise members with comparable programming (referral networking, events, advocacy). Comparable peer for member benefits design and event sponsorship economics.

Broad incumbents

• Detroit Regional Chamber: The largest chamber in Michigan, operating at a metro/regional scale with significantly broader programming, advocacy, and resources. Competes for larger enterprise members and attention from the same Macomb County businesses that may consider tiered chamber affiliations.
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce: The statewide chamber representing Michigan business interests through policy advocacy and legislative engagement. Represents a different tier of membership that some Connect Macomb members may also hold, but addresses state-level concerns beyond Connect Macomb's local scope.

Emerging players

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring and education to SMBs and entrepreneurs. Overlaps with Connect Macomb's small business development mission and member base, but offers a complementary (rather than directly competitive) service that some Connect Macomb members use in parallel.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/connectmacomb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connectmacomb
• Instagraminstagram.com/connectmacomb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connect Macomb