Every year, we tend to reflect on how the year went at the end of the year. We look forward with great hope to the New Year. In business, reflection is a must. Each month, I write about one local business in our Valley that is making a difference for the betterment of our community.
And this month, I wanted to shout out to those organizations who assisted and found ways to help our local brick and mortar businesses survive these unprecedented times of Covid-19 and the CZU fires and the continuing needed improvements.
There are too many local, city, county and state organizations to mention here. Still, I wanted to acknowledge these nonprofit organizations: The San Lorenzo Valley Chamber/Ben Lomond Association, Downtown Felton Association and Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.
My question was about their activities, future trends and hopes for their communities in 2022. All expressed the amount of work still left to do after the unsettling 2019 and 2020 and found ways to help support our businesses.
None of us expected these challenges, but these organizations have come through for our community. A nonprofits’ main mission is to help support and grow its community through its resources and affiliations. Their memberships consist of business owners. But the organizations themselves operate with limited paid staff and depend on its membership’s generosity and volunteerism.
Bryan Chambers, Executive Director of SLV Chamber
Our strategy for 2022 will focus on assisting our SLV business community in adjusting to ‘new normal’ depending on the outlook for the pandemic and the progress on fire recovery. We look forward to getting back to hosting business and networking events as soon we can do so safely. The good news is that several new businesses are opening along the Highway 9 corridor. So at the moment, there is plenty of optimism in the air.
Danny Reber, Executive Director of SV Chamber
Reber wanted to mention the Zoom Town Hall meeting for all small businesses on the Small Business Rent & Mortgage Assistance Program. Join the discussion set for Jan. 13 at 6pm to learn about small business grant opportunity requirements and details and how to apply. Link to zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8443146134
Christy Schults, Executive Director of Downtown Felton Association
Schults praised the association membership and the community for their involvement and commitment to one another in these times their community projects, beautification improvements and its downtown shopping local efforts.
Our chambers and business associations are about “building relationships, building community and shopping local first.” These organizations invest in the New Hopes for a New Year in 2022.
If you want to be a part of the solution to the challenges in our community, business owner or not, ask them about the myriad of events and activities they are planning in 2022 that perhaps you could volunteer or contribute to specific funds.
These organizations have the same common goal: to provide resources, support and quality products and services for all of us in the Valleys, especially in times of challenge.
SLV Chamber: slvchamber.org
SV Chamber: scottsvalleychamber.com
Downtown Felton Association: downtownfelton.com
Wishing you a Happy New Year, friends.
Janet Janssen is coach & trainer specializing in helping business owners and their teams increase their sales and customer services skills and helps improve public speaking and presentations. Contact her at ja***@ja**********.com or 831-335-0553.
