The memberships of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI) approved to merge as of January 1, 2017.

The ARCSI will be officially known as “ARCSI, A Division of ISSA.”

“We couldn’t be more excited about this merger and the benefits, resources, and power it will bring to our membership,” says ARCSI CEO Ernie Hartong. “Drawing on ISSA’s resources, we will be able to grow our membership and provide wider options for education programming. We are also poised to drive the message to consumers of the benefits of using a professional residential cleaning company and, with the support of ISSA, we can bring that to fruition.”

ARCSI members will retain their ARCSI memberships, but those memberships will expand to include global ISSA membership and benefits. ARCSI members will also have access to ISSA member benefits, including expanded educational opportunities, market exposure, networking opportunities, business tools and data and other industry information.

“ISSA’s mission is to change the way the world views cleaning in all sectors of the industry,” says ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “The line between commercial and residential cleaning has grown closer in recent years, and the merger of ISSA and ARCSI is yet another move toward creating one strong, unified, industry.”

Members of ARCSI and ISSA voted on the merger at their annual meetings, which took place during ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America.