News that the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti chambers of commerce planned to merge in January is a good sign that regional consolidation could gain traction in Washtenaw County in 2010. Here are some of the reasons we like the move:

1. Leadership. The business advocacy groups don’t answer to the public, but their decision sets the tone for how public bodies - like local government and school systems - could approach consolidation.

2. Efficiency. There isn’t a big overlap in membership, yet neither group needs to “reinvent the wheel” when it comes to serving members. Now they won’t have to.

3. Service. We’re assuming that service won’t change - and that it could now grow. There will be a way to retain advocacy for subgroups as needed, even if that doesn’t end up being a geographic issue.

4. Unity. We’ve all felt the “dividing line” at U.S.-23 - and questioned whether it really still needed to exist. This is a strong statement from the business community saying that, metaphorically, it can come down.

5. Strength. A vital and vibrant regional chamber can cultivate more influence than two smaller groups, especially with so many other networking and advocacy options growing in the region.

(Editor's note: This is an opinion piece by the editorial team at Ann Arbor Business Review, part of AnnArbor.com. Laurel Champion, executive vice president of AnnArbor.com, is on the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.)