For a number of Incline Village and Crystal Bay businesses and nonprofit organizations, a membership in the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce is a helpful relationship.

Kym Fabel, manager of the Tahoe City-based Chamber, said 31 percent of the Chamber’s membership is made up of Incline and Crystal Bay area businesses and organizations.

This is a rise from two years ago, when Fabel said the Chamber lost some membership when it merged with the former Incline Village/Crystal Bay Chamber of Commerce in 2006. The merger moved the Chamber’s operations to Tahoe City, though Fabel said the Chamber is still invested in Incline and Crystal Bay.

“It’s true, our numbers suffered a bit after the merger,” Fabel said. “But membership has been growing and our local partnerships are helping.”

Those partnerships include Chamber co-sponsored political forums during the summer and fall along with the Bonanza and monthly — sometimes bi-monthly — mixers which take place at local businesses.

“These are really important to the community and something we plan to continue to do,” Fabel said.

Chamber voting membership costs anywhere from $210 for small businesses and individuals to $550 for a business conference membership with lodging. A non-voting affiliation costs $110.

The price is a worth it, said Linda Offerdahl, owner of Incline-based Dress the Part(y).

“Belonging to the Chamber gives me access to the Tahoe City and Truckee markets, which might as well be 1,000 miles away,” Offerdahl said. “I have an amazing amount of customers drive in from Tahoe City and the South Shore — the Chamber does a good job of getting my name out there.”

Offerdahl said a recent mixer she hosted for the Chamber at Dress the Part(y) was well attended and brought in business from around the North Shore and Truckee area.

Fabel said the Chamber provides a number of incentives for local businesses such as mass mailings, networking with other local businesses, the chance to advertise as a group in multiple media outlets and access to free job postings.

The Chamber doesn’t just offer perks to businesses, though.

Tahoe Rim Trail Association Director Mark Kimbrough said the Chamber benefits his nonprofit by giving it contacts in the business community.

“It’s one of the few opportunities you have to establish ties with the business community as a non profit,” Kimbrough said. “There is a mailing list you can use, you can post articles in their publications, and they allow us space for our trail information in their offices.”

Kimbrough said the Chamber is adept at disseminating information on the TRTA and said the relationship is great for the Incline-based nonprofit.

Curt Wegener, owner of Bowl Incline, said the Chamber provides some valuable information on local businesses and trends.

For information on the Chamber and its membership, visit northlaketahoechamber.com or call Fabel at (530) 581-8746.