ZELIENOPLE — The Zelienople-Harmony Chamber of Commerce plans to merge with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Leaders of both organizations met Monday afternoon in Zelienople to discuss the plan that will boost the county chamber’s membership while making it possible for the long-declining Zelienople-Harmony group to retain its identity.

The first phase will take place in the next couple weeks and involve disbanding the Zelienople-Harmony Chamber and transferring members to the county chamber.

The second phase involves realigning a revamped version of the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association, which is a subsidiary of the Zelienople-Harmony Chamber, as an affiliate of the county chamber.

The Zelienople-Harmony Chamber members will be transferred to the county chamber for a trial year.

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the county chamber, said Zelienople-Harmony Chamber members will be included in all county chamber events and services.

He said about 30 of the Zelienople-Harmony Chamber’s 160 members already belong to the county chamber. The addition of the rest will increase the county chamber membership to about 800.

Kosciuszko said, “I think it’s exciting. We do a lot of things together already.”

Drew Mathew, vice president of the Zelienople-Harmony Chamber board, said dwindling membership ultimately forced the chamber to consider a merger with another organization after having discussed the possibility for years.