The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston saw the official open of Massachusetts’ newest business group: The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, according to Boston Business.
An affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, part of the new bank’s stated mission includes “promoting opportunities among LGBT-owned and allied businesses, corporations and professionals” in order to foster a state of economic growth.
Among the Chamber’s practices is training to encourage the certification of LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBE), which would be used by local and state agencies to promote a more diverse supply chain.
In an interview from June, Grace Moreno, the organization’s executive director, stated that the Chamber would benefit organizations who want to connect with the LGBTQ community and would be instrumental in providing an outline of best practices for equity and inclusion efforts “from a human resources perspective, from a perspective of hiring talent,”.
Currently, the new LGBT Chamber has secured at least 18 corporate sponsors, among them Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., CVS Health, and JetBlue. The opening, held at the Federal Reserve Bank at 600 Atlantic Ave., saw the arrival of a number of local businesses owned by members of the LGBTQ community in Massachusetts and their corporate partners, as well as the mayor of Holyoke, Alex Morse, and Governor Charlie Baker, who delivered the event’s keynote speeches.
The President and CEO of Boston-headquartered software firm PTC Inc, Jim Heppelmann, was notably supportive, saying that becoming a founding member of the chamber was “an easy decision.”
“Diversity and inclusion are essential to any organization’s creativity, growth, and success, and we recognize their role in helping to drive the innovative and nurturing spirit that makes us not only a great place to work, but also a company people can feel proud of doing business with,” Heppelmann added.