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Brookhaven Chamber outlines aggressive growth plan: membership and revenue targets revealed
Summary
Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jeffrey Woolverton presented the organization's 2026–27 strategic plan to the city council, citing about 1,600 local businesses, roughly 250 chamber members, a target to grow membership ~60% (to ≈400) and revenue goals including a ~$325,000 figure and sizable percentage increases for sponsorships, grants and programs.
Jeffrey Woolverton, the executive director of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce, presented the Chamber’s strategic growth plan for 2026–27 at the April 28 council work session and outlined membership, marketing and revenue targets.
Woolverton summarized the Chamber’s assessments of local business trends and a December 2025 member survey that asked about outlook and priorities. He said the city business summary lists roughly 1,600 businesses and that about 250 organizations are currently Chamber members. “We want to increase our membership by 60%,” he said, and added that the Chamber aims to raise its retention rate to about 80%.
The plan sets specific revenue and program targets: Woolverton described a $325,000-plus revenue target and projected large percentage increases in key revenue lines, saying sponsorships are expected to grow by 131%, grants by 94% and program-related revenues by 61% compared with 2025 figures. He also sketched a strategy of board engagement, marketing initiatives and a Power Lunch professional-development series to support small-business needs.
Woolverton said the Chamber will pursue more professional-development workshops, increase its digital reach and create a scholarship fund for small businesses and young professionals. He highlighted a Power Lunch series launching in May and a relaunch of a golf tournament set for Oct. 9 as revenue-driving events. “We want to actually put dollar amounts to these [membership benefits],” he told council members.
Council members praised the plan’s depth and expressed support for partnering on implementation. Council questions focused on how the Chamber will engage small and diverse businesses and whether the proposed metrics are realistic; Woolverton said many of the plan’s programs are designed specifically for smaller businesses and cited a membership profile showing 60% of responding members have five or fewer employees.
The presentation was informational; the council did not take formal action during the work session.
