The idea of businesses working together in a collaborative way to protect and promote commerce began hundreds of years ago in Europe. The actual term “chamber of commerce” was first documented in 1599 in Marseille, France. This early organization established a collective group that represented common business interests to establish policies to govern trade and to support the economy.

The New York Chamber of Commerce, formed in 1768 when the state was still a British colony, is the oldest chamber in the United States. New York tradesmen organized to fight the Stamp Tax Act and enjoyed the benefit of a unified effort. In 1773, a newly created Boston Chamber of Commerce protested against the tax placed on tea by the British—also known as the Boston Tea Party. Within a century, there were 40 local chambers of commerce in the US.

In 1911, President William Howard Taft addressed the need of a “central organization in touch with associations and chambers of commerce throughout the country and able to keep purely American interests in a closer touch with different phases of commercial affairs.” By this time, there were almost 2,000 business groups in the US with a combined income of over $6.5 million. In 1912, a group of 700 delegates from business and trade organizations came together to form that central organization in what is now the US Chamber of Commerce.

The US Chamber’s first referendum in 1913 focused on whether there should be a Plan for a National Budget for the federal government. Soon thereafter, the Chamber went on to support a Federal Reserve System and the creation of the Federal Trade Commission. By 1920, membership rose to over 13,000 individuals, corporations and firms.

The US Chamber of Commerce is now the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses throughout the country as well as state and local chambers of commerce. While many of those members are large Fortune 500 firms, 96 percent are businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Throughout the United States today, there are over 5,000 chambers of commerce.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce began in 1916 as the Florida Cattle Tick Eradication Committee. During these early times, the cattle tick threatened Florida’s economy and the agricultural leaders realized the power in numbers and the strength of a unified voice. Since then, Florida’s population has grown from almost 1 million to more than 20 million. If Florida were a separate country today, its economy would rank 18th largest in the world. Throughout that history, the Florida Chamber has remained focused on encouraging a business friendly climate that strengthens job creation and supports a diversified economy.

Locally, Sarasota in 1911 created the Board of Trade with 37 members. In 1921, the Board of Trade reorganized to the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and moved into its first home on Sixth Street. Early efforts focused on mosquito control, better roads, improved utilities, attracting industry and growing the tourism industry. Almost 100 years has passed since that reorganization, yet we continue to focus on many of the same core business interests today. We continue to maximize our members’ success, the community’s competitiveness and the area’s economic strength.

Amy Farrington is vice president of Public Policy and Sarasota Tomorrow Initiatives for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.