SALISBURY — The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce joins the growing list of North Carolina Chambers of Commerce that partner with First Benefits Insurance Mutual (FBIM) to offer a workers’ compensation program as part of its member services.

FBIM is an association-based workers’ compensation carrier that has been providing quality service to chamber members for over 20 years. The Rowan Chamber becomes one of the over 60 chambers to join forces with FBIM to bring competitive workers’ compensation insurance to North Carolina businesses.

The Rowan Chamber is the largest business advocacy organization in the county with over 850 member firms. For over 90 years, the chamber has been serving the needs of the business community with value-added benefits and services.

The chamber was recently recognized as a national runner-up for Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

“With this new partnership Rowan Chamber members will have access to FBIM’s competitive rates, skilled underwriting and personalized service,” said Elaine Spalding, Rowan Chamber president. “Chamber members may use their own insurance agent to take advantage of this new benefit.”

Created by North Carolina business owners for North Carolina business owners, FBIM offers interest-free payment plans, individualized underwriting (no predictive modeling), effective claims management, friendly customer service and will consider writing new business just starting out.

“At FBIM we place a high priority on ensuring our appointed agents and insureds understand that workers’ compensation is a balance of protecting the employee in the event of an unfortunate on-the-job accident, while at the same time protecting the employer from exorbitant costs related to litigation, medical expenses and other business expenses related to workers’ injuries,” said First Benefits Vice President of Marketing Richard Suddarth.

North Carolina law requires businesses with three or more employees to provide workers’ compensation insurance.

For more information on the Rowan Chamber, contact Elaine Spalding at 704-633-4221 or espalding@rowanchamber.com.

For more information on the workers compensation program, contact Peg Pirrotta at 888-393-2667 or ppirrotta@firstbenefits.org.