Laura Nicholson, Executive Director/CEO

As the summer season heats up, literally, the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce, its volunteers and committees become increasingly busy with a season that is laden with tourists heading for our lakes and campgrounds and our local events and festivals that make many weekends very busy.

Our committees, including LEAD Yuba^Sutter, the Ambassadors, the Workforce Development Committee, Government Affairs and the Shop Local Committee, have also been hard at work meeting the Chamber mission, "To create and promote a community climate where businesses are productive and profitable."

This is an overview of some of the key items we have worked with since the last issue of Business Today. It is an overview and isn't able to include everything we are doing to meet our mission, and to best serve you, our business community.

The Government Affairs Committee

The Government Affairs Committee has held several discussions and met with city representatives regarding proposed impact fee increases in Yuba City. The GAC recognizes the need for fair and equitable impact fees that respond to growth in the area and meeting the needs of residents. The group has expressed concern that should the fees increase too much, it will impact expansion and new construction plans both in residential and commercial sectors. The GAC has expressed its concerns to city representatives.

The Chamber sent letters of support for continued funding of the YouthBuild program, for development of a new agricultural product and continued support of the Federal Technology Center. New products from our agricultural community are important to maintaining our rich agricultural history.

The YouthBuild program offers a training program to younger adults who might not otherwise perform well in traditional academic settings. The Federal Technology Center assists small businesses and has worked with this Chamber to provide business information and training in the area.

Tourism

The Tourism Committee completed work on a new tourism web site at www.visityubasutter.com. The new site is comprehensive and interactive, includes a community calendar and a video of the community. Three new brochures focus on agricultural stands and related businesses, historical sites and walking tours of the downtown communities. A pamphlet-size map of the area also has been completed and is being distributed throughout the area.

All of the new tourism materials are also going to Nu Generations bowling center for the bowlers in the state tournament each weekend. They are also available free of charge at the Chamber offices at 429 10th St. in Marysville.

Visitor's Guides were mailed to Barstow, Atlanta, Santa Ana, Cameron Park, Black Diamond, Wash., Ocean Springs, Miss. Roseburg, Ore., and Pittsburgh, Penn. A couple traveling from British Columbia, Canada, stopped in looking for overnight RV accommodations before they headed on to Mendocino.

Lead Yuba^Sutter

Lead Yuba^Sutter, the Chamber's professional development group, graduated 14 members of the Class of 2007 at a June ceremony held at the Chamber offices. The group had a very successful year, and demonstrated its leadership, energy and enthusiasm with the Extreme Makeover 2007 of the Chamber offices.

Promote a Strong Local Economy

The Shop Local Committee held its first festival of the year in May at Yuba College. Plans are now in the works for the second Plumas Lake Shop Local Festival planned for Saturday, October 13, at Plumas Lake.

The Chamber also hosted its second Legislative Lunch of the year on June 22, with the topic of Flood Control and Proposition 1E.

Our calls for information began to center on area events and activities, including the Gold Sox and the Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Kenny Chesney's appearance at the ampitheatre drew numerous calls for lodging and restaurants. A tour group from Minnesota enlisted our assistance in learning about the agricultural community here. Thank you to our Chamber members who welcomed them with a welcome bag from Sunsweet that included items from Feather Falls Casino, the Mary Aaron Museum, Publicity Plus, Sutter Community Bank and Sutter County Republican Women.

Support the Community

We also continued our daily work of assisting visitors and fielding phone calls on a variety of topics including finding a Japanese translator. Our visitors ranged from around the state and the nation. Relocation packets went to Italy, Hermiston, Oregon, Santa Rosa, Santa Ana, Novato, Illinois and Thiells, New York.

Networking Opportunities

Our ribbon cuttings, a Business After Hours, and the Business Connection Breakfast represented nearly 300 networking contacts for our members.