By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Hoping to end something of an identity crisis, the Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce has changed its name.

The organization boosting business growth in West Chester and Liberty townships officially became the West Chester Chamber Alliance on Tuesday. It's the third suburban chamber to change its name in six months.

"We got a lot of questions, like, 'Where is southeastern Butler County?'" said Kerry Murray, chamber vice president.

The chamber has 775 members from Northern Kentucky to Dayton. The new name links the organization to West Chester's booming economic centers along Union Centre Boulevard and the Voice of America Centre on Cox Road, where the chamber will move into a new office in August.

The Union Centre central business district and Cox Road University Point developments weren't built when the Union Township Chamber adopted the name in 1995. The organization grew out of the Pisgah Businessman's Association founded in 1976.

"We know that West Chester is a pretty recognizable name," Murray said.

And it will become better known as both townships grow along the Interstate 75 corridor, she says.

West Chester is projected to reach 62,500 residents in six years, while Liberty is expected to top 60,000 by 2020, according to Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments report.

An internal review resulted in adding the word "alliance" because of the importance of "building and retaining partnerships and alliances with both businesses and organizations," said Joe Hinson, chamber president and CEO.

In March, the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce in Warren County changed its name to the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber. The Mid-Miami Valley Chamber in northeaster Butler County became the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton in December.