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Chamber Economic Development Committee launches outreach program
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – To address the challenges of being in business in a sluggish economy, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce has formed an Economic Development Committee.
Under the leadership of Chair Barbara Flynn, the committee will initiate an outreach program where members survey local businesses to get answers to a number of business-related questions, including the positives and negatives of doing business in Lake County.
The goal will be to identify the hurdles that businesses must clear and respond to their needs, with the goal being to ultimately create and retain jobs in Lake County.
The committee will work in collaboration with other local business groups, the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, county officials, the Small Business Development Center at Yuba College and the California Association for Local Economic Development.
The committee also will address the need for free training in computer use, Web site building and use of social media for business owners to be able to compete in the current market.
The group is looking for available training for employees in both the sales and the hospitality business that will improve customer service and lead to more local shopping and dining, which will help retain existing businesses and create new ones.
The chamber reported that the committee is looking forward to all the communities in Lake County working together in a collaborative effort to retain and attract businesses and grow our economy to provide for a better quality of life.
Members of the committee are Barbara Flynn, chamber director, Brick Oven Pizza and Bellissimo! Wine Country Catering; Anthony O’Brien, Top Speed Data; Jim Magliulo, president Lake County Chamber, CPS Country Air, Wine Barrel Crafting; Armand Pauly, Polestar Computers; Claude Brown, Westgate Petroleum; Claudia Street, Lake County Farm Bureau; Pam Harpster, Workforce Lake; Jack Buell, chamber director, Sutter Lakeside Hospital; Carole Cole-Lewis, Thrive Lake County; Bill Kearney, North Lake Medical Pharmacy; Alan Flora, county of Lake Administration office; Wilda Shock, city of Lakeport, Margaret Silveira, Lakeport city manager; Matt Perry, Lake County administrator; Gary Graves, Graves Financial Services; Tina Chiotti-Stewart, Middletown Florist; Michael Mos, Bicoastal Media; Joy Calonico, SBCD Lake County; Melissa Fulton, chief executive officer, Lake County Chamber; Monica Rosenthal; and Tamara Richmond, executive director of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Members of the committee will begin visits to the businesses for the surveys this month.
There will be a meeting of all interested parties to review the interview materials and provide opportunities for questions prior to beginning the actual interviews.
Anyone interested in assisting with these surveys should contact Melissa Fulton at the Lake County Chamber office, 707-263-5092.