Dayton Chamber of Commerce

What Dayton Chamber of Commerce does

The Dayton Chamber of Commerce is a private nonprofit membership organization founded in 1947, headquartered at 202 E Main Street in Dayton, Washington, serving Dayton and the broader Columbia County region in Southeast Washington State. Its stated mission is to promote the economic vitality of Dayton and Columbia County through tourism, promotion, business development, events, and management of a membership organization. The Chamber serves as the central business membership body for the area, with a membership directory listing over 60 local businesses spanning agriculture, banking, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and services. It also functions as the regional visitor center, handling more than 2,000 inquiries annually that are referred to member businesses.

The Chamber does not operate a technology platform; its information dissemination is conducted through the historicdayton.com website, a Facebook page, email newsletters, e-blasts, and in-person visitor services at its office. Its core "products" are programmatic rather than software-based: tiered annual memberships ($60 to $400), event sponsorships ($150 Traditional / $250 Premium), signature events (Dayton Days, Christmas Kickoff, Columbia County Fair, Brix & Brew Benefit Auction, 79th Annual Community Choice Awards), the Main Street Facade Grant matching program for historic building restoration, and promotion of cultural attractions including the Dayton Historic Depot Museum (oldest surviving train station in Washington State), Boldman House Museum, Lewis and Clark Patit Creek Campsite, and the Columbia County Courthouse.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues (subscription model), event sponsorships, and transactional event revenue such as auction proceeds and ticket sales. The Chamber operates with a lean staff (Director Belinda Larsen, Office Assistant Parker Brown, Graphics staff Lauren Parsons) under a board of directors chaired by President Bette Lou Crothers. It maintains strategic partnerships with the City of Dayton, Port of Columbia County, Columbia REA/iConnect, Dayton Historic Depot Society, and Blue Mountain Artists Guild, among others, to coordinate community development and tourism initiatives. No external funding, venture investment, or parent company relationships are disclosed.

Name

Dayton Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Dayton Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://historicdayton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Dayton Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1947 serving Dayton, Washington and Columbia County. It promotes local economic vitality through tiered business memberships ($60-$400), event sponsorships, signature community events, tourism marketing, and management of historic regional attractions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Association / Chamber of Commerce

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Community Parades, Carnivals & Street Fairs (MPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Business membership services
• Community tourism promotion
• Economic development programs
• Local event organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

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. Membership Dues: The Chamber generates revenue through annual membership fees from local businesses and organizations. Membership tiers range from $60 for Friends of the Chamber to $400 for Financial Institutions and Government entities.
2. Event Sponsorships: The Chamber sells sponsorships for community events including Traditional Sponsor ($150) and Premium Sponsor ($250) levels. Sponsorships are described as 'the heart of our events'.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event tickets and participation fees for Chamber-organized events such as the Brix & Brew Benefit Auction and Community Choice Awards.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Dayton Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization that sells annual Chamber memberships to local businesses (tiered $60–$400) and event sponsorships to support community programming. It promotes economic vitality in Dayton and Columbia County through tourism marketing, business referrals, signature events (Dayton Days, Christmas Kickoff, Columbia County Fair, Blue Mountain Brix & Brew), historic site museums, and community development programs such as the Main Street Facade Grant.

Product overview

Dayton Chamber of Commerce operates as a membership-based organization providing a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Chamber Membership programs (offering tiered pricing from $60-$400 with benefits including business listings, referrals, and event promotion); Chamber Sponsorship opportunities (Traditional $150 / Premium $250); Main Street Facade Grant program supporting historic building restoration; and Dayton Development Task Force initiatives. The Chamber also organizes signature community events including Dayton Days (Memorial Day Weekend rodeo and parade), Christmas Kickoff (Thanksgiving Weekend festival), Columbia County Fair, and Blue Mountain Brix & Brew auction. Cultural attractions under its umbrella include the Boldman House Museum, Dayton Historic Depot Museum, Lewis and Clark Patit Creek Campsite, Columbia County Courthouse, and the annual 79th Annual Community Choice Awards ceremony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Annual Chamber membership program for local businesses, organizations, and individuals, with tiered pricing from $60 to $400 based on business size and type. Benefits include free business listings in the online member directory, referrals from 2,000+ annual visitor inquiries, brochure displays at the visitor center, boosted Facebook posts, sponsored Instagram content, e-newsletter advertising, e-blasts for special events, free restaurant listings in the Dining Guide, retail shop listings in the Shopping Guide, and access to Cup of Joe networking events.
• Chamber Sponsorship Event sponsorship program for Chamber-organized events with two tiers: Traditional Sponsor ($150) and Premium Sponsor ($250) with higher visibility. Sponsorships are described as the core funding mechanism for Chamber events.
• Main Street Facade Grant Matching grant program for owners of historic downtown buildings to receive facelifts, supporting downtown revitalization and historic preservation in Dayton. Includes published grant instructions, agreement forms, and application forms.
• Dayton Days Annual Memorial Day Weekend celebration featuring rodeo events and parade, celebrating historic Dayton traditions. Open to community members and visitors.
• Christmas Kickoff Thanksgiving Weekend holiday festival featuring the Festival of Trees, Christmas Market, Selfies with Santa, Ugly Christmas Sweater 3k Dash, Lighted Christmas Parade, tree lighting, fireworks, and Liberty Theater performances.
• Columbia County Fair Annual county fair featuring Animals & Livestock Exhibits, 4H & Open Horse Show, Demo Derby, Rodeo, and vendor food offerings.
• Blue Mountain Brix & Brew Benefit Auction Annual benefit auction held in March at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion, supporting Chamber operating costs and annual events, sponsored by Columbia REA/iConnect.
• Boldman House Museum Historic house museum at 410 N 1st Street, built in 1880, bequeathed to Dayton Historical Depot Society, open Thursday-Saturday with seasonal hours. Promoted by the Chamber as part of Dayton tourism.
• Dayton Historic Depot Museum Oldest surviving passenger train station in Washington State, built in 1881 in Stick/Eastlake style, now a museum featuring revolving upstairs gallery exhibits. Operated by the Dayton Historic Depot Society and promoted by the Chamber.
• Lewis and Clark Patit Creek Campsite Restored historic campsite with life-size metal silhouette sculptures created during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, located two miles east of Dayton on Patit Road. Promoted by the Chamber as a heritage attraction.
• Columbia County Courthouse Washington State's oldest operating courthouse, built in 1886 in Italianate style, restored in 1993-94 at a cost of $1.8 million, featuring Civil War cannons on the lawn. Promoted by the Chamber as a heritage tourism draw.
• Community Choice Awards Annual awards banquet recognizing Citizen of the Year, Employee of the Year, Business of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year, Non-profit of the Year, and Startup of the Year. The 79th Annual Community Choice Awards are scheduled for 2026.
• Dayton Development Task Force Programs Coordinated downtown revitalization programs including Main Street renovations, Liberty Theater support, Lewis and Clark Campsite maintenance, Caboose Park restoration, seasonal decorations, and historic building mural restoration, delivered through the 501(c)(3) Dayton Development Task Force in partnership with the Chamber and City of Dayton.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Skyline AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBluewood ski area partners with Skyline Adventures to provide skiing and snowboarding opportunities to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to experience Bluewood, demonstrating community outreach commitment.
• City of DaytoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Dayton Development Task Force (DDTF), a 501(c)(3) organization, works with the Chamber and City on downtown revitalization, Main Street renovations, Liberty Theater restoration, Lewis and Clark Campsite, and Caboose Park projects.
• Port of Columbia CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Port of Columbia partners with DDTF and Chamber on economic development initiatives and manages Blue Mountain Station food processing facility.
• Columbia REA/iConnectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerColumbia Rural Electric Association and Columbia iConnect sponsor the annual Brix & Brew Benefit Auction that supports Chamber operations.
• Dayton Historic Depot SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Society operates the Dayton Historic Depot Museum (oldest surviving train station in Washington State) and the Boldman House Museum. The Chamber promotes these attractions as part of tourism efforts.
• Blue Mountain Artists GuildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Chamber partners with the Blue Mountain Artists Guild to organize the annual Art Walk in Dayton event held at the Dayton Historic Depot courtyard.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Main Street America: National nonprofit network supporting downtown revitalization, closely aligned with Dayton's Main Street Facade Grant program and Dayton Development Task Force initiatives. Comparable as a community-centered heritage and economic development organization, though it operates as a network/program rather than a single local chamber.
• Washington State Historical Society: Statewide heritage nonprofit that operates museums, archives, and educational programs relevant to Dayton's historic sites (Depot Museum, Boldman House, Lewis and Clark Campsite). Comparable as a cultural/heritage organization but covers the entire state and does not run a local business membership program.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: National broad incumbent: the largest U.S. business federation. Shares the Chamber-of-Commerce model (membership, advocacy, economic development) but operates at a national level with policy, lobbying, and large-scale research services that local chambers like Dayton do not provide.
• Washington State Chamber of Commerce: State-level broad incumbent: the umbrella business advocacy organization for Washington. Comparable as a chamber of commerce in mission (business advocacy, economic development) but operates at a much larger geographic and policy scale, and does not focus on local visitor services.

Direct peers

• Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce: Direct peer: another southeast Washington regional Chamber of Commerce providing membership, events, and visitor services in a nearby wine and agriculture economy. Serves the same kind of local business and tourism audience as the Dayton Chamber, making it the most operationally comparable organization.
• Dayton Historic Depot Society: Closely affiliated local heritage nonprofit that operates the Dayton Historic Depot Museum and Boldman House Museum with the Chamber's promotional support. Directly comparable as a community-rooted heritage organization in the same small town, and a frequent operational partner of the Chamber.

Regional players

• Visit Walla Walla: Regional destination marketing organization for the Walla Walla Valley, which includes Dayton. Comparable in promoting tourism, lodging, dining, and events to visitors, but operates at a larger regional scale and functions more as a destination marketing organization than a business membership chamber.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DaytonChamberofCommerce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dayton-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Dayton Chamber of Commerce