Members of the Greater Magnolia and Magnolia Parkway chambers of commerce voted last week to merge the chambers, a decision that comes nearly six months after the chambers formed an exploratory committee to research the feasibility of a merger. According to a press release from the Unification Transition Committee, a majority of members voted to unite the chambers.

"With this majority vote, the true work begins to continue the work already started to bring together two great groups into an even greater whole that will work hard to benefit all members and our community," the committee said in the release.

Ballots were cast throughout the week of Oct. 24 at each chamber's luncheon, in person and via email. Each business was allowed one vote per chamber in which the business is a member.

According to a presentation compiled by the Unification Transition Committee, business and residential growth in the Greater Magnolia area has prompted unification. Chamber representatives previously said there is a 35 percent overlap in membership between the GMCC and the MPCC.

Committee members—who were appointed in late August to outline what a unified chamber would look like—said the long-term plan is for the chamber to be located within Magnolia city limits. Additionally, an interim board will work to combine the two boards of directors throughout the unified chamber's first year, resulting in a new board that consists of an equal number of existing directors from each chamber.

The unified chamber becomes official Jan. 1.

According to representatives from both chambers, current board members from each chamber will be appointed to the transition board Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 2-3.

"They will meet very soon and begin the work to get this Unified Chamber working together," the committee statement said. "We look forward to strengthening the established relationships with city, county and state entities and professional organizations."