Cross Talk with Josh Cross: Feeling Hungry?

Cross Talk with Josh Cross

WITH JOSH CROSS Interim CEO/President | Atascadero Chamber of Commerce

New December Chamber Members:

• A.C.E. Promotions acepromotions.com

• Mari Landscaping Inc. marilandscaping.com

• Ryan Brockett Arch., Inc. brockitecture.com

• Commission Buddies commissionbuddies.com

• REMAX Success remax.com/ real-estate-offices/

• Cool Marketing coolmarketing.org

Upcoming Events For February:

Harassment Prevention Training | Ongoing

Did you know that California mandates harassment training for companies of five or more employees every two years? The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Diversys

Learning, Inc. to provide ongoing Harassment Prevention Training. This service will be available throughout the year, so if you add new employees, they can be certified easily or be recertified when due. Food Handler and California Responsible Beverage training is available as well.

Sign-up at atascaderchamber.org.

Design Thinking For Entrepreneurs/Workshop Wednesday

Wed., Jan. 6, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Discover how to create a collaborative environment where everyone is responsible for design.

You will go through design challenges and sprints that can be incorporated into any workplace or startup to unlock creativity and innovative thinking.

Make Your Website Work For You / Workshop Wednesday

Wed., Jan. 13, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Learn how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports their goals.

Whether launching a new website or sprucing up an old one, this workshop will help.

Register for virtual events at AtascaderoChamber.org, or call (805) 466-2044

Resources: 1. American Express. (2018, November 13). Small Business Economic Impact Study. Business Wire. businesswire.com/news/ home/20181113005356/en/, 2. SCORE. (2019, April 8). Infographic: Small Business Charitable Giving - Big Impact on Local. score.org/resource/ infographic-small-business-charitable-giving-big-impact-local-communities

Cross Talk

Feeling hungry? I certainly am for small, local restaurants! Not many people know that our local dining establishments play a significant role in creating a vibrant community. We’re talking more than just providing tasty food (They definitely do that!). According to the Small Business Economic Impact Study by American Express, two-thirds of every dollar spent in local eateries and businesses stays in the community. That means that the cash you use for dining locally is money that our restaurants will put back into our community, supporting jobs, non-profits, and donation drives, while building a robust community. Let’s take a look at how local restaurants support jobs in Atascadero. Local families own local restaurants, so right off the bat, you’re supporting a family when enjoying that fresh, juicy burger. It doesn’t stop there; most eateries hire a team ranging from high schoolers looking for their first job up through experienced adults with culinary or hospitality education. Community investment continues when local restaurants source their food and ingredients from local farmers. This helps keep small farms productive, creates jobs, and improves our economy. That one tasty burger that you ordered will help countless families in the community. To top it off, it tastes great too!

Our community restaurants support non-profits and donation drives. According to SCORE, small business owners donate 250 percent more than larger businesses to local non-profits and community causes. That means that basket of fries you just ordered to go with your burger will help fund local charities, youth organizations, first-responder organizations, aid and service groups, and food pantries. You’re inadvertently giving back, just by having a good meal – now that’s a win-win! Finally, our small, local restaurants help build and support a strong sense of community. Graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, promotions, business partnerships, and friendships are made over a good meal. Food brings people together, period. We celebrate happy memories over a meal, and then we create new memories with the ones we’re with. Our local eateries are social hubs that enhance our quality of life. They help us maintain and strengthen the relationships we have with one another.

Together, let’s make one of our 2021 resolutions to help support our local, small restaurants. After all, their food is not only fueling us; it’s fueling our community. 