ARTICLE
Welcome back to our multi-week article series, “What Does the Chamber Do for You?” Last week we discussed the Chamber’s five strategic goals. If you missed last week’s edition, you can read it here. Each year, the Chamber travels with a select group of local business and government leaders to see how other communities are tackling the similar issues that we face here in Santa Cruz County. This Community Leadership Visit (CLV) is one of our most important annual events. It started a number of years ago when the Chamber established an outreach and partnership resource program where ideas flowed through conversation between chamber members and public sector leaders of our region. The first CLV was an all-inclusive trip around the city and county where we learned about everything from the University and its tech transfer, big data and entrepreneurship programs to the marine science programs and the age agricultural innovation in South County. Most importantly, we learned more about each other’s professional lives than could be imagined. The bond of interest between the public and private sector united on that inaugural CLV. The Community Leadership Visit (CLV) is considered to be one of the most critical Chamber activities that builds bridges between the private and public sector. The CLV, over the years, has been specifically tailored to draw the community together to address perplexing problems in our region. A trip to Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado was the starting point for a stronger bond between the University and the City/County. Each of those two Colorado communities have a unique relationship with their Universities — Boulder has the University of Colorado and Fort Collins has Colorado State University. The CLV provided a conceptual conversation of how the University can work with the local community and vice versa. The ideas of the trip lead to the development of University incubator project where think tank research can be exported to create start-up companies on the Westside. The CLV to Santa Barbara was a keystone moment to learn how that community addressed a long time infrastructure problem along Highway 101 that was impacting the quality of life for residents and businesses. In 2008, the voters of Santa Barbara County voted 2-1 to oppose a tax measure that was designed to help bring local resources to the county. County officials used the next two years to educate and learn what the community wanted — highway improvements, city and county roads maintenance, pedestrian and bicycle routes, and a host of other transportation policy changes. Two years later in 2010, the voters approved a tax measure that was based on public input. The Chamber’s CLV in 2012 was our community’s education experience to learn from Santa Barbara and that trip became a catalyst for our own 2016 ½-cent sales tax (Measure D) transportation initiative. Measure D funds are now providing local resources to be matched with state dollars to improve our highway, county and city roads, safe route to schools and other much needed transportation improvements countywide. No one needs to tell a Santa Cruz county business leader how challenging it is to recruit and retain employees in our competitive coastal environment. When we poll our business leaders on what are the top issues facing their company and employees — the cost of housing and transportation are at the top of the list, followed by public safety and a stronger business climate. The 2017 CLV was a “call to action” via a seven city tour in the Bay Area — focused on how each of those Bay Area communities addressed housing and transportation problems. 64 public and private sector leaders from Santa Cruz participated on that trip — convincing our local elected officials that addressing housing now was not only necessary but it was a call to action. Over the past year, our Chamber members are actively engaging with our city and county public leaders to find solutions to our housing problems. This advocacy work takes time to establish a positive relationship with city and county leaders — both elected and staff — adapting to changing times and finding consensus to push forward with objective policies that can actually lead to more housing at all income levels. We are making progress. Right now we are preparing for this year’s CLV to the Lake Tahoe Basin, where we will be engaging in conversations with that area’s local business and government leadership on everything from housing to transportation and water infrastructure to sustainable industry. You can read more about this year’s upcoming and exciting trip as well as see highlights from past CLVs here.
Welcome back to our multi-week article series, “What Does the Chamber Do for You?” Last week we discussed the Chamber’s five strategic goals. If you missed last week’s edition, you can read it here.
Each year, the Chamber travels with a select group of local business and government leaders to see how other communities are tackling the similar issues that we face here in Santa Cruz County. This Community Leadership Visit (CLV) is one of our most important annual events. It started a number of years ago when the Chamber established an outreach and partnership resource program where ideas flowed through conversation between chamber members and public sector leaders of our region. The first CLV was an all-inclusive trip around the city and county where we learned about everything from the University and its tech transfer, big data and entrepreneurship programs to the marine science programs and the age agricultural innovation in South County. Most importantly, we learned more about each other’s professional lives than could be imagined. The bond of interest between the public and private sector united on that inaugural CLV.
The Community Leadership Visit (CLV) is considered to be one of the most critical Chamber activities that builds bridges between the private and public sector. The CLV, over the years, has been specifically tailored to draw the community together to address perplexing problems in our region. A trip to Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado was the starting point for a stronger bond between the University and the City/County. Each of those two Colorado communities have a unique relationship with their Universities — Boulder has the University of Colorado and Fort Collins has Colorado State University. The CLV provided a conceptual conversation of how the University can work with the local community and vice versa. The ideas of the trip lead to the development of University incubator project where think tank research can be exported to create start-up companies on the Westside.
The CLV to Santa Barbara was a keystone moment to learn how that community addressed a long time infrastructure problem along Highway 101 that was impacting the quality of life for residents and businesses. In 2008, the voters of Santa Barbara County voted 2-1 to oppose a tax measure that was designed to help bring local resources to the county. County officials used the next two years to educate and learn what the community wanted — highway improvements, city and county roads maintenance, pedestrian and bicycle routes, and a host of other transportation policy changes. Two years later in 2010, the voters approved a tax measure that was based on public input. The Chamber’s CLV in 2012 was our community’s education experience to learn from Santa Barbara and that trip became a catalyst for our own 2016 ½-cent sales tax (Measure D) transportation initiative. Measure D funds are now providing local resources to be matched with state dollars to improve our highway, county and city roads, safe route to schools and other much needed transportation improvements countywide.
No one needs to tell a Santa Cruz county business leader how challenging it is to recruit and retain employees in our competitive coastal environment. When we poll our business leaders on what are the top issues facing their company and employees — the cost of housing and transportation are at the top of the list, followed by public safety and a stronger business climate.
The 2017 CLV was a “call to action” via a seven city tour in the Bay Area — focused on how each of those Bay Area communities addressed housing and transportation problems. 64 public and private sector leaders from Santa Cruz participated on that trip — convincing our local elected officials that addressing housing now was not only necessary but it was a call to action. Over the past year, our Chamber members are actively engaging with our city and county public leaders to find solutions to our housing problems. This advocacy work takes time to establish a positive relationship with city and county leaders — both elected and staff — adapting to changing times and finding consensus to push forward with objective policies that can actually lead to more housing at all income levels. We are making progress.
Right now we are preparing for this year’s CLV to the Lake Tahoe Basin, where we will be engaging in conversations with that area’s local business and government leadership on everything from housing to transportation and water infrastructure to sustainable industry. You can read more about this year’s upcoming and exciting trip as well as see highlights from past CLVs here.