The Chamber Goals and Objectives

"Business is great in Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara is great for business"

The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce is a California non-profit corporation. The organization was founded in 1878 and incorporated in 1899. The Chamber is a business association representing some 2,000 local businesses. Governed by a 20 person volunteer board of directors and managed by a professional staff, the chamber operates a visitor center and a resource center. The Chamber's mission is to foster a vibrant economy and improve the quality of life for all who live and work in the region. Through it’s programs the Chamber generates more than $80 million in annual local business referrals. The chamber visitor center hosts 300,000 annual customers. The chamber website generates 14,000 hits per day. The Santa Barbara Chamber is the oldest and largest business organization in the Tri-County Region. In 2008, the Chamber will sponsor a trade mission to China, a speaker’s conference, an expanded virtual business environment, radio and television programs, a book and author festival and youth mentoring opportunities.

Goals & Objectives

Communications

Our goal is to use all media sources at our disposal to provide excellent information communications to our members and the public.

We will maintain and update an extensive interactive web site.  We will publish directories and maps.  We will produce weekly television and radio programs.  We will publish quarterly newsletters and an annual report.  We will produce and run radio and television advertisements promoting our events and membership.  We will produce a weekly email summary of our government affairs activity.  We will sponsor 25 non-profit events produced by other organizations.

Visitor Services

The Chamber will make every effort to provide superb services to any person interested in visiting Santa Barbara.

We will provide visitor information 24 hours per day on our web site and at our automated kiosks (in Santa Barbara and Sacramento). We will provide on-site and telephonic information at our two offices.  We will distribute more than 800,000 maps and pamphlets to visitors.

Economic Development

The primary focus of the chamber is on the continued health of our local economy and member businesses.

We will continue to provide direct referrals to our member businesses, this activity will result in 400,000 business transactions valued at $40 million. We will provide free business counseling to individuals interested in operating a business in Santa Barbara. We will sponsor and conduct business classes and seminars for our members. We will
in Education Council.  We will serve as a liaison for City and County economic development efforts.

Government Relations

The Chamber of Commerce is the business advocate to local government.  We represent our members before councils, commissions, and work to influence legislation to benefit their businesses.

We will work to retain excellent access to local government officials. We will hold quarterly meetings of our GRC council.  We will produce weekly electronic summaries of both City and County government activities.  We will make weekly appearances at City and County councils and boards.  We will diligently advocate for housing construction.

Member Services

 The Chamber will have 2,000 business members in 2008.  These companies will represent some 50,000 employees.  Our goal is to facilitate business opportunities for these members and to provide benefits that assist them in operating profitable businesses.

We will produce events and committee meetings that provide opportunities for member networking. We will contract for group discounts for member businesses. We will maintain an updated web site with detailed information for members. We will package advertising and marketing opportunities for our members. We will operate councils and segmented interest groups when needed.

Philanthropy and Community Development

The Chamber will create a blue-sky list of all worthy community projects. The chamber will support with time and money the efforts of the non-profit community to improve the quality of life in the Region. The chamber will act to facilitate the creation of a corporate philanthropy council.