The St. Matthews Area Business Association “SMABA” was organized in 1955. A dedicated group of members drafted bylaws and formulated programs and activities that promoted the businesses that served the community. Our first meeting was held Tuesday August 9th at the Canary Cottage and the formal organization of such an association was unanimously authorized. A short time later, a meeting was set up to draft a constitution and bylaws; select officers and formulate a program of activity in the community. At that time SMABA had 81 founding members, and its mission was “to develop and promote the growth and welfare of all business in the St. Matthews area through a better serving of the consuming public, and to actively participate in all things that may ensure the accomplishment of that purpose.” With strong leadership, active members, and effective business programming and events, by 2008 the St. Matthews Area Business Association became the largest business association in the Louisville (KY) metropolitan area. In 2011 the Board of Directors presented the opportunity to its members to transition SMABA into a Chamber of Commerce in 2012. Today, the St. Matthews Area Chamber of Commerce is a powerful and effective advocate; full of resources, opportunities and synergies for its members including retail, business services, for-profit, non-profit, manufacturers, healthcare and more. Our members have always led the success of the organization. Our Board of Directors is committed, our committees are filled with passionate members and our networking events are some of the most well-attended, even better than organizations twice our size. Our members are based throughout the region. They join to share in the economic development opportunities made available through engagement with The Chamber.