A little over a year ago, your Chamber’s leadership recognized that, as an organization, we needed to become more proactive and agile in responding to proposed new policies, regulations, or projects in our community.  As the primary voice of business in the public arena, we knew we needed a comprehensive and cohesive set of policies to guide our volunteers in taking positions on behalf of the whole organization.    As part of that effort, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee created a series of seven (7) Focus Teams.  Each Focus Team developed a “position statement,” which describe key issues of concern and serves as an evaluation document that can be used by the Focus Team, or others, in determining how to respond to specific policy proposals.   These Position Statements were adopted as the official policy of the Chamber by the Board of Directors in February, 2009.

Change is coming to Visalia.   The City recently agreed to engage in a comprehensive update of our General Plan – the first in nearly 20 years.   An election will be held in the next couple of months which could change the make-up and dynamics of local leadership.   The good news is that your Chamber has been preparing for these changes and is ready to engage as the leading voice for protecting those things that make Visalia work as a community and advocating change where it will make us more competitive and attractive as a place to live and work.

The Visalia Chamber of Commerce is committed to creating a strong local economy, promoting our community, providing expanded business opportunities for our members, and representing the interests of business with government.   Working with civic and business partners, we believe the following to be key objectives and priorities.

While not much can be done to end the continuing drought, something has to be done to alter government decisions that are taking water from farms, homes and businesses and giving that water to fish.

In 50 or 100 years from now, what will Visalians want to know about us and life in Visalia today?

Yes, I mean it.  Taking care of your elderly parents or grandparents is one of the toughest challenges we face.  So dump 'em!  Ok, take it easy - don’t drop them at the off ramp to Ben Maddox.

On June 24, a kick-off luncheon was held for employers interested in starting a Tulare and Kings Counties chapter of the California Business Leadership Network. The event was attended by 45 people who were inspired by speakers now successfully employed in the community despite their disabilities.

After weeks of summer vacation and tending to all the things our children want and need, it’s time for Visalia’s children to return to school for the 2009-10 school year.  Parents will return to more structured time schedules and daily routines.  Kids get to reconnect with all their school friends and find out what everyone did over the summer.  It also means earlier bed times, refocusing on school and home work, and no more sleep-overs or “all night movie nights” with friends and family…at least during the week.

Mooney merchants were disappointed to hear the latest developments in the $12 million widening project impacting businesses for the second consecutive holiday season.  The City’s role in the widening project involves the intersections of Walnut and Whitendale, a sticky issue for businesses and a lengthy and complex process for city engineers.

Remember the victims of 9/11 by giving blood in their memory or support Raiders Football on September 12th by helping to save lives...