Introduction to the Chamber

The Chamber: For businesses and the community

Do chambers of commerce exist to help businesses? Or are they meant to support the community?

The answer is simple: both.

Through a wide range of activities, events and initiatives, the Spanish Fork Salem Area Chamber of Commerce strives to promote a vibrant local economy while also building up its two member communities.

Business leaders who join the chamber can experience these benefits themselves and witness how chamber membership can promote growth in their business, their professional relationships and their community service.

“The chamber helps me as a business so I can be more successful and better serve our community,” said Aaron Lowe, administrator at Canyon View Medical Group in Spanish Fork. “Our business is a better business because of our affiliation with the chamber.”

NETWORKING

Often, the largest benefit of chamber membership is simply meeting other business leaders, learning from them and creating friendships. This is known as networking.

“The chamber, to me, has been about networking, a lot of networking, and it’s helped me build confidence,” said Randi Kaufman, current chair of the Spanish Fork/ Salem chamber’s board of directors and owner of RK Creative Studio.

Kaufman joined the chamber 10 years ago and quickly made friends — and business contacts.

“Everyone was so willing to give help or advice or support in one way or another,” Kaufman said. “A majority of my clients come through the chamber through word of mouth and through networking.”

Lowe said networking also involves discovering businesses in the community one may not know about. Lowe’s business was considering doing some video promotion; at a chamber event, he connected with someone that does video marketing.

CONNECTING WITH RESOURCES

The Spanish Fork/Salem chamber regularly works with its members to connect them with various programs, services and resources that are available to help them better run their businesses.

“I think the primary goal of the chamber is to provide resources to businesses, whether large or small. and then through that to educate them about how their involvement can be beneficial to both the community and their businesses,” Kaufman said. For example, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and businesses found themselves in need of items such as face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and disposable gloves, the chamber worked with Spanish Fork City to offer the SF-19 Business Relief Program.

Through this program, businesses were able to place orders for these items. The city purchased the items using federal COVID funds, and the items were distributed by the chamber.

Workshops and training events are also offered regularly by the chamber to help its members improve their skills, whether it be in communication, leadership, marketing or other areas.

Lowe said he attended a chamber event where Mountainland Technical College described a program it offered through which businesses could obtain specific training for their employees at a discounted rate or even without cost. At the time, his medical group was spending more than $100,000 per year on education and training for its employees.

He approached MTECH for more information; his group now utilizes the MTECH program at a savings of about $20,000 per year. “It’s been something that spurred financial benefit as well as education benefit and patient success,” Lowe said.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

Each year, the Spanish Fork/Salem chamber sponsors several events that bring the community together. These include an Easter Egg Hunt, the Winter Lights Parade and the Spanish Fork Farmer’s Market. With the Spanish Fork Rotary Club, the chamber conducts a golf tournament each year that raises money for scholarships.

“It’s really about just supporting the community and collaborating with the city and bringing good things to bear in the community,” Lowe said.

Through these events, the chamber helps enhance the quality of life in Spanish Fork and Salem. At the same time, community members become more aware of local businesses and what they offer.

PROMOTION & AWARENESS

Through its various membership benefits, the chamber helps promote local businesses and keeps them informed of local issues that may affect them. Its Shop Local program encourages residents to keep their dollars in their local area. Business of the Month and ribbon-cutting ceremonies promote new and existing businesses.

Other marketing opportunities include advertising on the chamber website and in its annual magazine, sponsorship opportunities, coupon emails and features on local cable television channel Spanish Fork Channel 17.

Through emails, publications and events, the chamber provides information about legislative activities and issues while also acting as a voice for business for local and state leaders.

JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY

For more information about the Spanish Fork Salem Area Chamber or Commerce or to join the chamber, visit spanishforkchamber.com or call 801-798-8352.

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