Laura Nicholson, Executive Director/CEO

The Chamber Year in Review

Wow, yet another year is coming to a close and the Chamber is already hard at work on programs for 2008.

This past year, as with those before them, has been a time of continued growth at the Chamber with new and updated programs and events designed to meet our mission, "To create and promote a community climate where businesses are productive and profitable."

The Chamber has four basic goals, to promote the community, to support a strong local economy, to provide networking opportunities and to advocate on behalf of the business community.

We field hundreds of phone calls monthly regarding our events, attractions and tourism related destinations. This year's tourism committee completed a highly successful web site at www.visityubasutter.com that gets almost 1,700 visits a month. Our tourism brochures, all available on the web site, include landmarks and historical sites, a walking tour of Marysville, a guide to the area and a highly popular farm stands map.

In 2007, those materials were kept at the Nu Generation bowling center throughout the 16-week state bowling tournament and were also distributed at the state fair.

Calls for events, concerts, lakes, resorts and businesses also are an everyday occurrence at the Chamber.

Our two Shop Local Festivals, at Yuba College and Plumas Lake, introduced residents to businesses in our community. The Chamber was also a founding member of the Yuba-Sutter Business Consortium, participated in the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and hosted a Main Street Walk with Congressman Wally Herger.

The Ambassadors hosted 41 ribbon cuttings in 2007 and several events throughout the year, the Annual Dinner, Great Balls of Fire and the Business Connections Breakfasts and Business After Hours, offered networking opportunities to our members.

The Government Affairs Committee was very busy with the Legislative Lunch Series, worked with city officials in Yuba City on development impact fees and supported the Yuba Highlands project.

With all that was done in 2007, there's more planned for 2008. We will continue to host our most popular events, including the Shop Local festivals, the Annual Dinner and Great Balls of Fire.

Plans for a regional tourism plan are underway and will be completed in 2008. Chamber members will participate in the Sutter County General Plan update and the successful Workforce Development Program to provide financial awards to anyone studying higher education in the Yuba-Sutter area will continue.

During 2008, the Government Affairs Committee will host candidate forums and "The Chamber Challenge," will be launched in place of On Business airing monthly on Comcast Channel 19.

With all that we have done in 2007 and will do in 2008, the Chamber realizes that business owners face tighter and tighter budgets. That's why all of our prices will remain the same for Chamber products, services and events that have a cost. Dues will increase just 2 percent.

So, that means your Chamber is committed to doing as much as it can to help your business prosper while holding costs down for you.

Thank you to everyone for their support of the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and we look forward to your continued support in 2008 as we work together to meet the mission, "To create and promote a community climate where businesses are productive and profitable."

The next Visitors Guide will be unveiled in January and will be distributed to some 250 locations and events throughout the region and to visitors and relocating residents throughout the nation.

Happy New Year, Yuba-Sutter!