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NEWPORT — It looks like all of Pend Oreille County will be represented by one chamber of commerce.
According to a press release sent to local media outlets on Friday, Sept. 25, the North Pend Oreille County Chamber of Commerce will officially close its operations, with the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce becoming the sole unified voice for businesses across the entire county.
“This consolidation represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen our collective impact,” said Madi Campbell, GNACC President. “We’re thrilled to extend an invitation to the businesses formerly served by the North Pend Oreille County Chamber to join GNACC.”
Ryan Kiss, outgoing North Pend Oreille County Chamber President, has led the difficult decision to close NPOCC.
“After careful consideration, our board determined that closing the organization and donating our remaining funds to GNACC will better serve the broader business community,” Kiss said. “GNACC’s rapid growth and dynamic leadership make them the ideal organization to carry forward the mission of supporting local businesses.”
This move will provide significant benefits to the business community throughout Pend Oreille County, the press release states. The unified online presence will streamline digital communications, making it easier for businesses and community members to access chamber resources, events and business information through a single, comprehensive online platform.
“By combining volunteer resources and eliminating duplicate efforts, a single chamber will be able to offer more robust programming and support services without overstretching volunteer capacity,” Campbell said.
“By representing the entire county GNACC will provide more effective advocacy at local, regional and state levels for business-friendly policies and economic development initiatives, while members will benefit from a larger, more diverse network of businesses and professionals across the entire county.”
All current North Pend Oreille County Chamber members are welcomed to join GNACC. The transition includes GNACC switching to renew memberships through the month of September, with membership ending in August of 2026.
Businesses and organizations can join at a later date but their membership will still end in August of next year.
The closure of NPOCC comes at a time of significant growth for GNACC, which has recently undergone leadership changes and strategic planning initiatives designed to enhance member value and community impact.
GNACC has recently unveiled a newly designed website, www. explorependoreille.com “The organizations wish to champion business success and community prosperity in the greater Newport area through innovative collaboration, strategic advocacy and adaptive leadership reflects its commitment to evolving with the needs of its business community,” Campbell said.
GNACC will be reaching out to all North Pend Oreille County Chamber members in the coming weeks to facilitate members joining and to discuss specific needs and interests. The organization plans to designate a liaison in the northern part of the county while leveraging the efficiency of consolidated operations. Information sessions for new members will be announced soon, and current GNACC programming remains on schedule.
The Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to business success and community prosperity through innovative collaboration, strategic advocacy and adaptive leadership.
