By: Dot Wright
I am happy to report the Arvada Chamber of Commerce reported a strong year of growth. The organization welcomed 140 new members, bringing the total to 629 members representing 29,469 full-time employees. O realize businesses have been hit hard by the past two years’ severe economic decline, but the fact so many turned to our chamber shows their commitment to investing in their companies’ success. We have many exciting ideas in store for 2011 to ensure that we continue to provide outstanding support to our members and empower them to succeed.
The Arvada Chamber realized several notable achievements in 2010:
- Saved participating members more than $120,000 on their workmen’s comp insurance through the Workmen’s Comp Association.
- Collaborated with the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) and the City of Arvada to create an Arvada shopping guide highlighting local retailers.
- Formed three new committees for community development, membership retention and government affairs.
- Launched a social media presence including a blog site, Twitter account and LinkedIn profile.
- Hosted successful events including the Arvada Chamber’s annual dinner, a golf tournament that sold out in eight days and Taste of Arvada, considered the “best year yet” by many attendees.
- Arvada Chamber president Dot Wright was honored with the “Forty Under 40″ award from the Denver Business Journal.
“I am pleased to be part of an organization that is at the leading edge of promoting a commerce-friendly city where businesses create jobs and experience success,” said our new Chairman of the Board Daryl Christensen. “According to the Small Business Association, small business creates more than 90 percent of all net jobs, so the involvement of our chamber is critical to the city’s economy.”
The Arvada Chamber plans to announce new initiatives for 2011 that include opening a satellite office for the Jefferson County Business Resource Center (JCBRC) at the Arvada Chamber headquarters. JCBRC offers services such as business planning, concept analysis and education classes, designed to help small businesses develop and grow. Business education classes are listed on the Arvada Chamber’s home page.
Leadership Arvada, a nine-month joint program between the Arvada Chamber and AEDA, is in its second year of nurturing the city’s next generation of business leaders. The program launched in September, with graduation in June. The class will participate in a community service project benefitting senior citizens.
The Arvada Chamber will continue to offer member benefits including: member to member discounts valid for all employees of chamber members, four networking events per month, weekly e-newsletter and conference room and office rentals in the chamber building.
To receive the Arvada Chamber e-newsletter, visit http://conta.cc/fat922.
