Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
grey
Chamber Events
Chamber News
Taste Of MysticAnnual Awards 2010Groton Business AssociationGarlic Fest
grey

History


A Downtown Classic site - the Bascule Bridge!

The economy of the Mystic community has been in constant transition since its founding in 1654. It was fueled by the whaling industry, shipbuilding during the clipper ship era, textiles after the Civil War, and changed to defense during the Cold War years. Today, tourism is the number one industry, and more than 50% of chamber members operate tourist-related businesses, in addition to attorneys, banks, merchants, community organizations and others.

Because there is not a town of Mystic, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is the unifying voice in a shared community that draws 60 percent of the state's visitors to the area.

The chamber has spearheaded efforts to find solutions to the many challenges Mystic faces and has assumed additional responsibilities since tourism started to soar years ago. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce operates a tourism information center at the Mystic Depot Welcome Center, publishes and distributes an annual visitors guide (circulation of 150,000), disseminates information to hundreds of visitors each day, and it fields over 100 phone calls daily. The chamber participates in several local and state agencies. It initiates and fosters legislation as it pertains to business, and advocates on tourism impact issues as they relate to visitors and residents. It is also active in small business legislation and works with the two local school systems, including them in the business community.

Back