Working Hard on Your Behalf: Chamber Month in Review

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is here for business. We are a catalyst for business growth, convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for a stronger Santa Maria Valley. We continue to work hard to serve our members, local businesses and the Santa Maria Valley community. Here’s a glimpse at what we’ve been up to lately.

Catalyst for Business Growth

• The Chamber highlighted the Santa Maria Valley Natural History Museum in their “Local Business Spotlight” series done in partnership with the Santa Maria Times.

• The Chamber continues to keep in touch with local organizations on upcoming events and changes in an effort to keep their local community events calendar current for the community.

• The Economic Development Commission provided start-up assistance to 4 local businesses.

• The Chamber continues to partner with Santa Barbara County Office of Education on finding local business hosts for their paid student internship program.

Convener of Leaders and Influencers

• The Chamber continues to hold their weekly “Build Your Business” breakfast meetings, an opportunity for local businesses to network and provide leads and testimonials.

• The Chamber held their November Mixer at the Altrusa Festival of Trees, providing a sneak peek at the annual event while also providing valuable networking opportunities to local professionals.

• The Chamber continues to hold their weekly “Build Your Business” breakfast meetings, an opportunity for local businesses to network and provide leads and testimonials.

• Local youth continued to progress through the Junior CEO program. Over 20 5th- 7th grade students are participating in the program, which walks them through how to own and operate their own business.

• The Chamber hosted a their latest FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) forum on the Future of Santa Barbara: Up and Coming Job Opportunities.

• The Chamber hosted their annual State of the City event, which included updates from the City of Santa Maria Mayor and City Manager. This year’s event was hybrid and available both remote and in person.

The Chamber held their November Mixer at the Altrusa Festival of Trees

Champion for a Stronger Santa Maria Valley

• The Chamber held a number of ribbon cuttings celebrating new Chamber member businesses. A full list can be found on p. 5

• The Economic Development Commission continues to play an active role in the City’s downtown revitalization project.

• Leadership Santa Maria Valley held their Business & Economics Topic Day

• The Chamber testified before the SBC Planning Commission in support of ExxonMobile's application to restart the SYU facility on an interim plan basis

• The Economic Development Commission assisted A.T Still University with finding local housing for students.

• The Tourism Marketing District produced two new blogs to help attract more tourists to the Santa Maria Valley

• The Visitors Bureau placed ads in Sunset Magazine's Harvest addition to help promote the Santa Maria Valley as a tourist destination

• The Chamber's Business and Government Roundtable heard a presentation from the Santa Barbara County Emergency Childcare Initiative on local childcare issues and discussed the role the Chamber could play in possible solutions.

The Chamber celebrated Toyota's new location grand opening with a ribbon cutting.