association:

... a organization of members having an interests in common. Associations are membership organizations (the term is here defined in the context of enterprise and economic development. Also, in that context they are operated as nonprofit enterprises that are either ally networks or special interest groups within which ally networks form.

SIG or SPIG are both acronyms for special interest groups. Other than facilitating member networking many associations exist as lobbying organizations; i.e., their special interest initiatives are to ... influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies (source of quote). Similarly, people may associate to form advocacy groups. SIGs are formed around social networks as well as business networks. In the latter case they may be identified as industry trade groups.

Use the Global Registry of Contacts to search for associations by name or location, keeping in mind that chambers of commerce are business associations that serve their communities. Many chambers house regional or local economic development organizations. Those that don't, typically know how to put prospects in touch with them.

We (who we are) publishes links to contact directories other than our GRC. Many association membership directories are among them. CLICK HERE for search tools.

go back

Use these search tools to find an association:

as a phrase all terms any terms case: sensitive insensitive 10 25 50 100 items per page About the GRC

PAGE UP to learn more about associations and their relationship to enterprise and economic development. Following are search suggestions in case you want to query the Web for an association or for more information about associations in general. Copy an italicized line of text as shown, keeping quotation marks intact. Paste it to the Google search engine above. Replace the word location with the identity of a place of interest.

Get rid of the quotation marks when using the GRC search tool.

"small business" "list of associations" resources

"small business" association location

business networking associations location

business networking association location

"chamber of commerce" location

association membership directory "economic development"

go back

FYI: definition of association definition of special interest group what is an association what are associations what is a special interest group what are special interest groups definition of membership organization define membership organizations what is an industry trade group what are industry trade groups what is a trade association what are trade associations define common interest group what are common interest groups definition of advocacy group what are advocacy group define social associations what are business associations what is an economic development association definition of economic development association