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Chamber Connection
SA NTA M A RIA VA LLE Y CH A MB E R MO NTHLY NE WS LE T TE R | S E P TE MB E R 202 2
Chambers' Visitors Bureau and Economic Development Commission See Resurgence in Local Economic Activity Part of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber’s mission is to be a “Champion for a stronger Santa Maria Valley”. The Chamber’s Visitors Bureau and Economic Development Commission play a key role in championing the local community by helping grow existing businesses, bringing new development to town, and increasing tourism in the Santa Maria Valley. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, both programs made significant strides in these areas. “We’ve been really active in our partnership with the City of Satna Maria on the Downtown revitalization project,” explained Suzanne Singh, Economic Development Director for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. “We’re excited to see this project moving forward, with City Council approving the first phase of this project.” Singh explained this initial phase of the project will be for a 5-story building with 88 housing units and commercial tenants on the first floor. The building will be located in the lot in front of Bank of America on the southeast corner of Main and Broadway. The approval of this development wrapped up a fiscal year of business growth and new development for the City of Santa Maria. Highlights included continued development of the Skyway Collective, which is slated to open in late fall, and the continued development and opening of businesses in the Enos Ranch area.
Boot Barn, located at X, was one of the many local businesses to celebrate a grand opening this past fiscal year. New developments like Enos Ranch and the Skyway Collective are giving both new and existing businesses the opportunity to open a location in Santa Maria. “Many of these projects, like Enos Ranch and the Skyway Collective, have been through a long process of development,” Singh explained. “To see them coming to completion and opening for the community to enjoy is really exciting.” The Chamber has held a number of ribbon cuttings to help some of these new businesses celebrate
their grand openings, including Boot Barn and Guitar Center, both located in the Enos Ranch plaza. Singh has also been busy assisting people looking to start or expand their business, responding to over 60 requests for businessrelated assistance over the past fiscal year. “As we see the business community open Continued on p. 2
WHAT ' S INSIDE : SE P TEMBE R 2022 ISSUE
Monthly Featured Businesses p.4
Ribbon Cuttings p. 5
Paid Student Internship Program p. 8