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What has "Your Chamber" done for you?
• Worked with Doc Hastings and FEMA to correct an error in the "100 year flood -plain maps"
saving local businesses and developers several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Created the Safe Yakima Valleys Committee whose work has seen a double digit decrease in
crime rates since 2008.
• Initiated and developed the "For a Better Tomorrow" campaign to bring citizens together with
the sole purpose of improving the upper valley's quality of life.
• Initiated the "Yakima Valley — Buy into It" campaign.
• Led the $750,000 expansion of our office into a regional business resource center which
houses The Chamber, YCDA (New Vision), SBDC, Safe Yakima Valley and the Central
Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Created what is now the Yakima County Development Association (New Vision).
• Helped to coordinate the creation of 1 -82 from Ellensburg to Yakima.
• Coordinated the local effort to build the Yakima Valley Sundome.
• Led the local effort to create Yakima Valley Community College and helped to bring the higher
education resource center there.
• Created the precursor agency to what is now the Visitors and Convention Bureau.
• Created the Leadership Yakima program of which over 800 professionals have graduated.
• Led the efforts for the creation of the Yakima Airport.
• Helped establish Mt. Rainier National Park.
• Represented local businesses with a city proposed shopping cart ordinance.
• Supported the expansion of the White Pass Ski Area.
• Supported the funding for reconstruction of the Clear Lake dam.
• Handles on average 75,000 inquiries per year by phone, walk -ins, mail and email - we're the
"front- door" of Yakima.
• Reviews business and legislative issues and make recommendations for them.
• Endorses Certificates of Origin (free to members).
• Supports numerous activities through our committees: Transportation - addresses and
coordinates local and regional traffic issues; Business & Technology - hosts an annual Expo
for businesses to showcase their products and services; Community Image - works on Yakima
signage, graffiti ordinances; Clean -up /Green -up campaign; Yakima entrances, Community
Pride, YES awards; Diversity - attempting to build bridges between community organizations
and communities; Chamber Foundation - supports funding of educational, community and
economic development programs.
• Initiated three attempts to create a Port District that would stimulate economic growth.
• Provides dozens of opportunities for members to be recognized or network, i.e. through
luncheons, Business after Hours, Action Report magazine, Chamber University., plus our
website and Facebook page.
• Maintains a professional office with full -time staff devoted to the civic, commercial and
educational development of our area!
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