The Chamber Waves Newsletter
CHAMBER WAVES Bi-Weekly Column
by Cheryl Popp, President, Sausalito Chamber of Commerce
February 11, 2009 Issue
Making a Difference!
Welcome to the first of bi-weekly column focused on Sausalito’s business community, and how we can sustain the local economy as well as the quality of life for visitors and residents alike. In addition to insights from the Chamber on the local business scene and business opportunities, we’ll offer up our favorite upcoming event and a best kept Sausalito secret. The goal is to make a difference in 2009 -- to make a difference for our members by adding value, especially in this challenging economy, and make
a difference for our Chamber with a long range plan that ensures a self-sufficient, sustainable future for the organization. We intend to build on the legacy we’ve established, maintain the momentum, but take it to the next level, and we have the dedicated board and the membership to make it happen.
One of the reoccurring themes this year will be to Buy Local – support your local businesses. Not only do local sales taxes benefit the City, it has been proven that independent business owners typically spend much of their profit locally, give back more to the community, and create more local jobs, especially for higher-skilled professionals such as accountants, website designers, IT consultants and ad agencies.
The San Francisco Chronicle recently cited a 2007 study by Civic Economics that found dollars spent at independent businesses yielded nearly three times more local economic benefit than those spent at chain competitors, and created about 80 percent more jobs. It’s time that we become more savvy about understanding local economies and recognize that directing growth and protecting community character are not obstacles to economic vitality - rather they are effective means to sustain it.
We look forward to working with the City and its Business Advisory Committee to pool our resources and create a serious economic development team to attract the right kind of business to Sausalito and make it a sought after destination for business. Without a thriving business community there won’t be the tax base to support our basic infrastructure, let alone improvements to the waterfront community we all love and cherish.
Not To Miss!
The 4th Annual Sausalito Tour de Cuisine, next Sunday, February 15th, 5-10 PM. This sell-out event in celebration of the Amgen Tour of California is always a hit with locals – party animals and foodies unite. Famous cyclist and physician Max Testa, team doctor for Astana will be sharing insights and signing his new book….rub shoulders with some of the professional cyclists.
Highlights this year include: 25 local restaurants & wineries, sake-tasting, the infamous Bubble Lounge, Dessert Row and Live music & dancing to the Sun Kings -- popular Beatles cover band!
One of Sausalito Best Kept Secrets!
Love those legendary Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco? Did you know you can cozy up to the bar at Horizon’s and get the exact same Irish Coffee? Local resident and restaurateur Bob Freedman owns both establishments, so you can rest assured that the recipe is the same. And by
the way, when was the last time you were there? Think it’s just for tourists. Think again.
Make a Difference in your community. Join the Chamber of Commerce.
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