History of Chambers of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce organization dates its history back to 16th century France when merchants came together to advocate for the king as a group. The Revolutionary War spawned the Chamber movement in the United States and today towns and cities across America have organized Chambers that serve as the nucleus of the community and advocate for business.

The Chamber's community involvement has responded to area needs. In the 1950s and 1960s Chambers as a whole placed their major emphasis on economic activities.

By the 1970s, with huge problems of inadequate housing, schools, community services and high unemployment, the Chambers took on a new role to deal with socioeconomic issues. That led to the 1980s movement in which Chambers focused on socio issues, in particular, socializing and the stigma of the Chamber solely as a social organization exists still today.

With the 1990s, Chambers took on looking at the issues that were relevant to our members. Our members were looking for tangible, definable products or services that would affect their bottom line versus being a part of the organization for civic obligation.

Today the trend is for Chambers to take a lead role in defining the community they are in by creating vision papers, i.e., Yuba-Sutter 2020; being a relevant organization in the midst of competition from economic development entities, workforce development entities, etc.

They also seek to:

• Improve economic prosperity of the community
• To effect public policy
• To improve membership services
• To recognize the value of education on all levels
• To effect a better community environment

The Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce has a rich history of supporting the needs and interests of the business community through its mission, "To Create and Promote a community climate where businesses are productive and profitable." The Chamber supports efforts that build a strong business economy that is reflected in the quality of life of living in the Yuba-Sutter community.

The following timeline reflects the strong history of events and activities in Chamber history:

1900 - Marysville/Yuba County Chamber forms to act as a progressive voice of business at the urging of the Sacramento Valley Improvement Association.

1911 - The Chamber plays a supportive role in the development of the arches in downtown Marysville.

1920s - As an element of their active promotion of tourism, the Chamber formed the Auto Tourist Campground at 14th & G Streets in Marysville. In that same time they create a motion picture of sights to see for both Yuba & Sutter counties for the State Exposition exhibit held in Los Angeles. The Chamber also receives a $150 monthly stipend from Marysville to put on band concerts in Cortez Square (Yuba County offices and jail - site of the first California State Fair in 1858).

1921 - The Chamber advocates the establishment of a community college in Marysville, which happens in 1928.

1921 - Yuba City/Sutter County Chamber of Commerce forms after a few years of debate.

1922 - As advocates for education, the Chamber votes to encourage raising salaries for teachers. They are active in promoting quality of life and economic issues.

1925 - Though competition between the two Chambers is always keen they are involved in many collaborative projects and come together to, "work for the advancement of both counties.