ARTICLE
Last week we began our five-week series “What Does the Chamber Do For You,” by summarizing the Chamber’s involvement with Local Issues and Policies. This week, we would like to give you some general information on the Chamber. We serve a diverse assortment of businesses, each with different needs and goals. Santa Cruz was a fast growing town when its Chamber of Commerce was organized on October 3, 1889 as the Board of Trade of Santa Cruz, with the following mission, which remains much the same today: "To foster, encourage and develop the mercantile, manufacturing, agricultural, horticultural, viticultural and home interests of the City of Santa Cruz and of Santa Cruz County; to collect, preserve, and circulate useful information concerning said city and said county; to encourage wise and helpful legislation, and oppose the enactment of all laws which might injuriously affect the best interests of said city and county; to promote integrity, fair dealing and good faith among members; to forward the improvements of streets, roads, avenues and public parks; to widen and extend our railroad and transportation facilities; to aid and encourage the erection of needed public buildings, the establishment of new manufactories and the advancement of local improvements; to buy, sell, lease and improve real estate in the interest of the corporation, and generally to strive with united efforts to increase the wealth, industries, influence, trade and population of said city and county.” Today our Chamber has members from a full range of professions, industries, and non-profit organizations, all committed to improving our local economy and community. Becoming a member of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities to give back to the community, to be “in the know” on people and issues that impact our community, and to raise your visibility and credibility in Santa Cruz County. Chamber Trivia *The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce’s member organizations range from single-person, home-based businesses to large organizations of more than 200 people. *There are more than 15,000 individual Santa Cruzans employed by Santa Cruz Area Chamber member organizations. *68% of our member organizations have nine or fewer employees *54% of individuals at Santa Cruz Area Chamber member organizations work at organizations with more than 200 employees *Our longest-standing member has been with the Chamber since 1920 *We have members from every area of Santa Cruz County, from Davenport and Boulder Creek in the north of Santa Cruz County, to Santa Cruz and Capitola on the coast, to Freedom and Watsonville in South County. *Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501c6 nonprofit organization *Our Board is made up of members who volunteer without compensation *We are an independent chamber and are not affiliated with the U.S. Chamber. *We are the seventh largest business organization in northern California *We have been advocating for Santa Cruz businesses and the community since 1889 Many of our active member companies and their representatives are involved in the Community Affairs Committee (CAC) which acts as the government relations arm of the Chamber. That committee’s primary role is on advocacy and establishing a strong partnership between the business community and local government. The Chamber has several core issues that we monitor on a regular basis. Each of these issues have their own pages on our website including an overview of the topic, links to an array of documents and resources, and a summary of the Chamber Vision for each. Stay tuned – next week’s edition will explore each of those goals!
Last week we began our five-week series “What Does the Chamber Do For You,” by summarizing the Chamber’s involvement with Local Issues and Policies. This week, we would like to give you some general information on the Chamber. We serve a diverse assortment of businesses, each with different needs and goals.
Santa Cruz was a fast growing town when its Chamber of Commerce was organized on October 3, 1889 as the Board of Trade of Santa Cruz, with the following mission, which remains much the same today:
"To foster, encourage and develop the mercantile, manufacturing, agricultural, horticultural, viticultural and home interests of the City of Santa Cruz and of Santa Cruz County; to collect, preserve, and circulate useful information concerning said city and said county; to encourage wise and helpful legislation, and oppose the enactment of all laws which might injuriously affect the best interests of said city and county; to promote integrity, fair dealing and good faith among members; to forward the improvements of streets, roads, avenues and public parks; to widen and extend our railroad and transportation facilities; to aid and encourage the erection of needed public buildings, the establishment of new manufactories and the advancement of local improvements; to buy, sell, lease and improve real estate in the interest of the corporation, and generally to strive with united efforts to increase the wealth, industries, influence, trade and population of said city and county.”
Today our Chamber has members from a full range of professions, industries, and non-profit organizations, all committed to improving our local economy and community. Becoming a member of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities to give back to the community, to be “in the know” on people and issues that impact our community, and to raise your visibility and credibility in Santa Cruz County.
Chamber Trivia
*The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce’s member organizations range from single-person, home-based businesses to large organizations of more than 200 people. *There are more than 15,000 individual Santa Cruzans employed by Santa Cruz Area Chamber member organizations. *68% of our member organizations have nine or fewer employees *54% of individuals at Santa Cruz Area Chamber member organizations work at organizations with more than 200 employees *Our longest-standing member has been with the Chamber since 1920 *We have members from every area of Santa Cruz County, from Davenport and Boulder Creek in the north of Santa Cruz County, to Santa Cruz and Capitola on the coast, to Freedom and Watsonville in South County. *Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501c6 nonprofit organization *Our Board is made up of members who volunteer without compensation *We are an independent chamber and are not affiliated with the U.S. Chamber. *We are the seventh largest business organization in northern California *We have been advocating for Santa Cruz businesses and the community since 1889
Many of our active member companies and their representatives are involved in the Community Affairs Committee (CAC) which acts as the government relations arm of the Chamber. That committee’s primary role is on advocacy and establishing a strong partnership between the business community and local government. The Chamber has several core issues that we monitor on a regular basis. Each of these issues have their own pages on our website including an overview of the topic, links to an array of documents and resources, and a summary of the Chamber Vision for each. Stay tuned – next week’s edition will explore each of those goals!