BY JESSICA FRENCH
The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce provides an array of benefits and services to our members. One of the many services we provide is business referrals.
The chamber is a clearinghouse for information about San Benito County and its businesses. The staff responds to hundreds of inquiries a month resulting in increased business opportunities for members. We promote economic growth in San Benito County by encouraging our community to buy local, attracting new industry to the county, and partnering with various organizations in the county to strategically plan for the future.
The chamber is the voice of the business community. We represent our members in the many partnerships and organizations, including the Economic Development Corp., the Hollister Downtown Association, the San Benito County Business Council, Monterey Bay Governments, Monterey Bay Clean Air Coalition, California Chamber of Commerce, California Trade and Commerce, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Coalition, Central Coast Chamber of Commerce Coalition, San Benito County Farm Bureau, San Benito County Board of Supervisors, Hollister City Council and Gavilan College, among numerous others.
The chamber sponsors business seminars as well as provides many resources to help manage and operate a small business more effectively. Through Gavilan College, one-on-one business counseling is available at convenient locations and the chamber has partnered with Gavilan to provide courses for business owners at the Hollister campus.
We are advocates of San Benito County tourism. We have a dedicated committee of local individuals who meet regularly to discuss new and innovative ways to market our county. They are also researching ways to brand our community as a destination place.
The chamber provides various publications that can be used as marketing tools or resources for businesses and individuals such as Chamber News, our monthly newsletter; the county/city map; California.Calm, our directory and guide to the county; and our Web site www.sanbenitocountychamber.com. We supply a calendar of events and display our members’ business cards and flyers in our office.
We also sponsor, participate in, or host: monthly mixers, Annual Citizens and Businesses of the Year Formal Dinner Dance Gala (to be held January 19), Lunch with Leaders, Tradeshow, Saddle Horse Parade and Fiesta, Hollister Motorcycle Rally and the “After Hours” Business Seminar. We also have a member-to-member discount program, which enables our members to utilize one another’s discounts.
We recently surveyed our membership via e-mail and have begun making changes based on their requests. We strive to create a strong local economy, promote the community, provide networking opportunities, represent the interests of business with government and take political action. If you are interested in joining the chamber, please contact our office at 831-637-5315 and remember San Benito County is strengthened by your support!
Jessica French is executive director of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
