Chamber Expands Efforts to Connect with Hispanic Businesses
The Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber has recently launched a targeted effort to better assist Hispanic businesses in their local community in an effort to strengthen their role as a catalyst, convener and champion for ALL local businesses. The chamber gathered local Hispanic leaders and business owners to form a Hispanic Business Outreach Committee.
The committee’s role is to help the chamber better understand and meet the needs of the Hispanic business community. The chamber also hired a new Hispanic Business Outreach and Service Representative to improve engagement with, and services to Hispanic-owned businesses. Recently the coordinator worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on client intake calls, addressing small business concerns including grant opportunities, business licensing/permitting, and startup capital to expand services to all businesses in Northern Santa Barbara County. The chamber also held a special mixer to kick off the discussion and committee’s efforts.
Interested in learning more about the program? Contact David Hernandez at david@santamaria.com.
Vail Valley Partnership Provides Outdoor Industry Strategy Summit
As a community with a very strong connection to the outdoor recreation industry, Vail Valley (CO) Partnership saw an opportunity to partner with the CU Boulder Outdoor Recreation Economy program to help develop opportunities and discuss strategies to achieve further economic development while fostering collaboration, sustainable growth, and innovation.
Their Outdoor Industry Summit on August 22 will feature a discussion of strategies to balance outdoor recreation and conservation of natural resources, ways to grow and sustain the outdoor industry in the region, and panel and tabletop discussions on key topics facing the outdoor recreation industry. Panel discussions will focus on the outdoor industry and destination stewardship, and tabletop conversations will be facilitated on topics ranging from financing to supply chain challenges, branding to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), and the workforce.
To learn more about the event, read Chris Romer’s article discussing the program at www.vailvalleypartnership.com/.
Arvada Chamber Releases First Edition of Local Business Trends Snapshot
In an earlier edition, we discussed the Arvada (CO) Chamber’s creation of the Arvada Resiliency Taskforce. With the Taskforce’s commitment to using data to support programs, resources, education, and policy shifts, they developed a quarterly briefing to inform strategies and support key leaders in decision making.
The first Local Business Trends Spotlight was released and features local business survey results, labor market data, and an overview of new data that the taskforce is watching, all in a clear, well-organized and easily digestible format. The report also serves as an opportunity for all community members to be accountable to changing trends and to consider action to improve outcomes.
To view the first edition of the snapshot, visit www.arvadachamber.org.
Phoenix Chamber Encourages Healthy Community with Wellness Initiative
Wellness A to Z Day is an event to celebrate the anniversary of the Greater Phoenix (AZ) Chamber Foundation’s community wellness initiative aimed at making the Greater Phoenix region known as a destination for healthy talent and a healthy community.
The chamber recognizes that healthy communities are vital to sustained growth of businesses, leading to a more competitive economy. Attracting and retaining talent requires more than high-wage jobs; it is driven by quality of life. Wellness A to Z complements existing employer wellness programs, highlighting best practices and offering free tools for enhancement.
By encouraging companies to EatWell, PlayWell, LiveWell and WorkWell, the program helps companies invest in their most important resource — their employees. Community members are encouraged to sign up to celebrate Wellness A to Z Day by giving back to the community, fueling with a healthy meal, attending Wellness A to Z Day activities and resources, exploring Arizona outdoors, and practicing mindfulness moments.
Learn more about the program, toolkit, resources offered and anniversary celebration at phoenixchamberfoundation.com.
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Information featured each month in Around the West is taken from chamber newsletters and websites that W.A.C.E. receives from its members. We try to share best practices, innovative ideas and programs from chambers working hard to be Catalysts, Conveners and Champions and make a difference in their community. Make sure to subscribe W.A.C.E. to your mailing list, if you haven’t done so already, and you may be featured in a future Insider!
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