Chamber Connection (December 2022)

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 Economic Development Commission (EDC) assisted a Mobile Medical Ultrasound Tech business start-up and a Tanning Salon business purchase. Additionally, the EDC assisted Altrusa in securing a location for the season and taught another round of a Business Startup course for Allan Hancock College. The EDC is also in talks with a foreign manufacturing company seeking to establish a presence in the United States.

• The Chamber filmed our latest Local Business Spotlight Video, done in partnership with the Santa Maria Times. For November, we highlighted Nostalgic's Inc and interviewed owner, Roy La Plante. Nostalgic's Inc recently celebrated 40 years in business. The full video can be viewed at https://santamaria.com/local-businessspotlight.

• The Tourism Board participated in the inaugural Central Coast Film Society's Entertainment Expo and spoke on the Filming on the Central Coast panel.

Tourism Director Jennifer Harrison served as a speaker on the Filming on the Central Coast Panel at the Central Coast Film Society Entertainment Expo.

Convener of Leaders and Influencers

Mayor Patino speaks at the 2022 State of the City address at the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria.

• The Chamber hosted the annual State of the City Address, where city leaders updated our local business leaders on the current and prospective status of the city.

• The Tourism Board attended the Central Coast Tourism Retreat and Board meeting and hosted two familiarization tours.

• The Chamber joined the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber and the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board to launch eight Industry Sector Roundtables to gather input from local businesses about economic development and workforce strategies.

• The Chamber met with business participants from our first round of Teacher Tours to discuss how to further their partnerships with our local schools, teachers, and students.

• The Chamber’s Ambassador Committee continues to meet monthly to stay connected in supporting new members as well as to play an active role in attending upcoming ribbon cuttings and events.

• The Chamber’s weekly BYB, (Build Your Business) continues to meet every Friday morning at 8AM.

Champion for a Stronger Santa Maria Valley

Leadership Santa Maria Valley cohort pictured here enjoying a painting class.

• The Chamber continued the FBLA Speaker Series, where HUB Insurance gave a presentation on the importance of soft skills to over 100 attendees.

• The Chamber published the Vote Record summarizing how ballot measures and local candidates aligned with the Chamber’s public policy positions.

• The LSMV class enjoyed their November topic day on parks and recreation.

• The Chamber joined with neighboring Chambers in Northern Santa Barbara County to continue sponsorship of award packages presented to Guardians and Airmen honored during the Vandenberg Space Force Base quarterly awards.

• The Chamber continues to advocate for businesses at the state and federal level. This month we joined coalitions opposing increased taxes on fuel and pushing back on new air quality regulations that would make warehousing and transporting goods more difficult and expensive. Additionally, Chamber Board Chair Sandra Dickerson provided testimony in a CalOSHA hearing expressing concerns about proposed extensions of the state's COVID-19 emergency rules, including potential continuation of exclusion pay rules.