On Aug. 17, an estimated record crowd of 800,000 witnessed the thrilling spectacle of the ninth annual Atlantic City Airshow, "Thunder Over the Boardwalk." The Greater Atlantic City Chamber is proud to play a leadership role in staging what has become the largest mid-week airshow in the country and Atlantic City's signature annual event.

Chamber President Joe Kelly has managed to establish and execute an event of enormous magnitude by leveraging both Chamber and community resources. While the Chamber serves as the event's organizer, a unified community effort from numerous agencies and organizations is what makes the success of this event possible. They include the 177th Fighter Wing of the N.J. Air National Guard, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, the Atlantic City International Airport, David Schultz Air Shows and the city of Atlantic City and the many departments under its umbrella.

The event sponsors also provide essential financial and logistical support. Special thanks to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa for helping to launch the airshow as the major sponsor in the event's first seven years of existence, and to Caesars Entertainment, which served as this year's host hotel sponsor. We are also deeply grateful to the hundreds of airshow volunteers who committed their valuable time behind the scenes, helping to ensure everyone's experience was a great one.

When the Chamber organized the first Atlantic City airshow in 2003, no one could have envisioned the size and scope it would reach just a few short years later. It is an event that advances the interests of just about every business in the city. An economic-impact study completed in 2008 reported that the net additional spending of airshow attendees was in excess of $29 million, with a total economic impact of more than $56 million. Business increased for 80 percent of the survey respondents. Media coverage via newspapers, Internet, radio and TV broadcasts reached 6.8 million people around the world. As the event grows in popularity each year, these numbers continue to climb.

In addition to bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the city midweek, the annual airshow draws attention to Atlantic City as a diverse entertainment destination. By showcasing all that Atlantic City has to offer, including a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, we make a favorable impression on airshow attendees, one that makes it more likely they'll choose Atlantic City for their next vacation getaway or business meeting.

There has been a great deal of talk over the past few years about the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors in Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Airshow is a perfect example of how that sort of cooperation can serve to benefit the city and the region.

The rapidly increasing gaming competition in neighboring states, combined with the economic downturn of the past few years, has left Atlantic City not without some formidable challenges. But those challenges come with some exciting opportunities as well, and we can best meet those challenges and seize those opportunities by working together. The air show is proof of that.

It is my hope that the spirit of teamwork so prevalent during the airshow continues to gain support and momentum and will be manifest through the development of a comprehensive plan to drive more midweek, off-season business to the city.

If our joint efforts can draw 800,000 to a one-day event, there is little doubt that continuous, year-round collaboration among key stakeholders would yield truly impressive results. By all of us in the business community and public-sector leaders working together, Atlantic City can emerge better and stronger than ever.

Sam Young is chairman of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber and president/CEO of Tilton Fitness.