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Chamber of Commerce

OUR MISSION
To promote business and enhance the economic and cultural well-being of Fresno County residents.

OUR ORGANIZATION
We are one of the largest chambers in California, with a membership of nearly 2,000 businesses. As the largest business organization in the region, our membership includes: small businesses, corporations, associations and professionals. Small business represents 80 percent of our membership.

CORE OBJECTIVES
We work hard to strengthen our community, to encourage growth and to identify needs and opportunity. Our objectives as your Chamber are to:

• Promote a Strong Local Economy
• Provide Opportunities to Network and Build Relationships
• Deliver Programs to Help Businesses Grow
• Represent and Advocate on Behalf of Business
• Enhance Commerce Through Community Stewardship

CHAMBER EVENTS & MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORK
The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of events and development programs ranging from seminars and training to executive-level support and networking opportunities. Annual breakfasts and luncheons, monthly mixers and an annual Business After Hours are just some of the events and programs designed to give you the most value out of your membership.

Listed below are our annual events:

Annual Agribusiness Management Conference &
Ag Awards Luncheon
The Chamber and California State University, Fresno Center for Agricultural Business and California Agricultural Technology Institute are delighted with this partnership, which combines the annual Agricultural Business Management Conference with another great event – The Ag Awards Luncheon. The Ag Awards Luncheon is a long standing fall Chamber tradition that honors a person from the agricultural community and features the presentation of the Baker, Peterson and Franklin Ag Business Award to an agricultural or farming entity business. The program will host an array of industry experts who will address important agricultural concerns and provide outstanding information.

Annual Membership & Installation Dinner
Join us for an evening of elegance and recognition as the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the Annual Membership & Installation Dinner. This event offers a unique opportunity for our members to celebrate the business accomplishments from the past year and preview the Chamber’s vision for the upcoming year. In addition, this event highlights the “Passing of the Gavel” and features other prestigious awards. This event occurs each January.

“A Night Under the Tuscan Stars” Live/Silent Auction & Dinner
Dine in the beautiful gardens of John and Carolyn Goss at Fresno’s premiere event every October. “A Night Under the Tuscan Stars” is an unforgettable night of dinner and music with live and silent auctions benefiting the Chamber. This event will be a magical experience for you to showcase your business.

Business After Hours
This event is a prime opportunity to peruse local business’ products and services. With numerous booths and attendees, this event also serves as an invaluable resource for networking and making those all important business contacts. Join us for a fun evening of music, food, beer and wine tasting, terrific give-a-ways and don’t forget your business cards. This may prove to be the best opportunity to market your business all year. Admission is free. Chamber members interested in sales and networking opportunities to build their customer base can book exhibit space at the ever-popular Business After Hours. This event takes place in August and serves as the August membership mixer.

Business Leadership Trips
These expeditions provide an exceptional opportunity to learn more about different cultures, the business environment and to make valuable contacts in the expansive markets. The eight- to ten-day trips amenities include round trip international airfare, 4-star or 5-star hotel stays, three full meals each day, governmental official banquets, deluxe bus tours, English speaking tour guides, admission tickets to all tourist attractions and airport taxes throughout the trip. This experience is available to all Chamber members and non members alike.

Economic Reporting Breakfast
Count the dollars of today’s economic climate at this annual spring event. What top economic issues are affecting your business dollars? It allows members of the business community to engage in a conversation to voice their vision on the Fresno area and the region. This event includes a specified topic outlining what can be done to better the economic wealth for all businesses, large and small.

Entrepreneurial Awards Luncheon
Join the Chamber as they highlight 12 enterprising individuals and organizations in our community that have successfully implemented the definition of entrepreneurship – “One who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.” The Chamber accepts nominations from the community for the following four entrepreneur awards: Harold Zinkin, a business or individual that has been in business for over five years; Rising Star, a business or individual that has been in business for five years or less; College, a college student who has best demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business; and Young High School, a high school or first-year college student who has best demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business. This event occurs in late September.

State of Education Luncheon
The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual State of Education Luncheon. The featured school district will report on their successes and future challenges. Be a part of this networking and marketing opportunity! This event takes place in the spring each year.

State of the City Luncheon
The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and co-hosts, Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hmong Business Association and San Joaquin Valley Black Chamber of Commerce present the annual State of the City Luncheon with the Mayor. This event provides a forum for the Mayor to share, with the community, the city’s accomplishments, opportunities and plans for the future. This event takes place in the summer each year.

State of the County Breakfast
The annual State of the County Breakfast serves as a forum for the Board of Supervisors and the Fresno County Farm Bureau to highlight the County’s accomplishments and outline a foundation for the future. This event is an excellent networking and marketing opportunity. This event takes place in the summer each year.

Valley Business Conference
Each February, the Chamber hosts a day-long event for everyone – Chamber members and nonmembers alike. The speakers provide pertinent information and an excellent networking opportunity for all business people. During the luncheon we honor a businessperson who has exhibited outstanding leadership through devotion of time and talents for the good of the community with the Leon S. Peters Award.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR EGGS AND ISSUES BREAKFAST
This event is held throughout the year with local legislators from throughout our region to provide a forum for Chamber members to interact and share their views on the needs of the business community. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

MEMBERSHIP MIXERS
(Third Thursday of each month) Membership Mixers is one of the Chamber’s successful networking events. These are popular get-togethers where current and potential members can meet, exchange information and talk business in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Bring your business cards and interact with other business contacts at an informal gathering. Opportunities exist where you can sponsor a Mixer and promote your business. Members and potential members may attend at no cost. Enjoy prizes, appetizers, beverages, spirits and entertainment at this exciting event. Visit www.fresnochamber.com to locate upcoming dates and locations.

DELIVERING PROGRAMS TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW
Our effectiveness, as a Chamber, depends upon our volunteers and staff, who identify community needs, issues and opportunities. We then work closely together to create programs to solve these issues and deliver the following programs to help grow business:

• School-to-career activities
• Business start-up support and assistance
• Sponsorship of Leadership Fresno
• Sponsorship of the San Joaquin Political Academy
• Workshops, information exchange and special events on business development
• Grand openings and ribbon cuttings
• Recognition of outstanding leadership with our annual Leon S. Peters award, of the agriculture industry with the Agriculturist of the Year award, and community entrepreneurship with the Annual four Entrepreneurial awards; Zinkin, Rising Star, College and Young High School.

The Chamber also develops business resource publications to promote the businesses of our members and to help continue the growth of our local economy.

• How to do Business in Fresno County
(Download it from our website: www.fresnochamber.com)
• Top 50 Employers Directory
• Industrial Directory
• Community Clubs and Organizations Directory
• Guide to Fresno
• Business Resource Guide and Relocation Packets
• Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide
• Community Profile

REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS
The Chamber must be active on the local, state and federal government levels. We believe that government must operate as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible for the economic well-being of the region. As your advocate before government, we have helped with:

• California’s Workers Compensation Reform; reducing statewide costs from $12 billion to $7 billion a year.
• New freeway construction and road improvements; over $700 million in investments and 14,000 new jobs.
• Downtown redevelopment; assuring a revitalized heart for the Central Valley.
• Downtown Multi-Purpose Stadium; fueling renewed interest in revitalization.
• Business and job education in the classroom; providing job skill
development to students throughout the region.
• Regional Water Supply and Resource Management; involving both agricultural and urban interests.
• Expansion of the Fresno Yosemite International Airport
• Urban and rural beautification
• High Speed Rail and Rail Consolidation Planning
• Workforce Development Board; facilitating direct access to employers to train needed employees with financial support through the Job Partnership Act.
• Economic Development Corporation; bringing new jobs and industry to our region.
• Regional Job Initiative
• Fresno Revitalization Corporation
• Roeding Industrial Park; a park with infrastructure in place for relocating businesses and industries.
• Public Safety Integration
• Measure C Campaign

ENHANCE COMMERCE THROUGH COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
The Chamber is the front door of community stewardship and we work in collaboration with many other community organizations to enhance local businesses. These include, but are not limited to:

• Building Industry Association
• California State University, Fresno
• Center for Advance Research and Technology
• Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporation
• Fresno Business Council
• Fresno Compact
• Fresno Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Fresno County Farm Bureau
• Fresno County Office of Education
• Hmong Business Association
• Non-profit Organizations
• Public Agencies
• Regional Jobs Initiative
• San Joaquin Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
• Service Clubs
• State Center Community College District
• State Center Consortium
• The Maddy Institute, CSUF
• Tree Fresno
• Workforce Investment Corporation
• Valley CAN

GET INVOLVED!
Members help us achieve our core objectives when they get involved. If you are a member and would like to get involved with the Chamber, please contact us at (559) 495-4800 or info@fresnochamber.com and let us know what committee you are interested in:

MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES DIVISION
Ambassadors
Membership & Marketing Committee

LAND USE & ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
Agriculture & Water Committee
Environmental Committee
Image Fresno

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
Governmental Affairs Council

BUSINESS VITALITY DIVISION
Business Education Committee

FEATURES AND BENEFITS FIRST TIME MEMBER INCENTIVES:
• Four 600 Club tickets to a Fresno Grizzlies game, Grizzlies souvenir and name recognition on scoreboard
(during baseball season)
• Listing as a new member in Chamber Update
• Listing as a new member in eNews
• Chamber of Commerce membership plaque
• Ribbon cutting/Grand opening ceremony
• Ribbon cutting/Grand opening picture displayed in Chamber Update
• Ribbon cutting/Grand opening event announced on the Chamber’s events calendar/website
• “New” member listing on Chamber
website online membership directory for first 30 days
• Free Business Journal subscription for three months

MEMBER INCENTIVES:
• Chamber Update monthly mailing
• Chamber eNews weekly distribution
• Business representation for government advocacy and the community
• Referrals of Chamber members for
business inquiries
• Tax deduction on Chamber membership dues
• Opportunity to host the Chamber’s monthly membership mixers for networking opportunities
• Notary services
• Free online job postings on Chamber’s website
• Quarterly development workshops on business issues
• Business development opportunities through several Chamber committees
• Membership database on a computer disk (first time is free)
• Business consulting for small business administration from SCORE
• Business/networking events throughout the year (approx. 15 events annually)
• Semi-monthly membership orientations to keep you up to date with Chamber’s benefits/mission
• Legislative eAlerts
• Fax blasts on urgent topics

MEMBER DISCOUNTS
• Employee Health/Dental Insurance (Ben-e-lect)
• Rental of the Chamber rooms, facilities & technology
• Office Depot supplies, up to 60%
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Hertz Rentals
• Wonder Valley Ranch Resort and Conference Center
• Mailing labels of the Chamber’s membership
• US Chamber of Commerce Benefits

MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Chamber offers its members many opportunities to market and promote their businesses. Here are a few of the opportunities your company can take advantage of:

• Coupons on the Chamber website
• Advertising in the Membership Directory and Community Guide
• Advertising in the Chamber Update by inserting a flyer
• Sponsorship opportunities at Chamber events
• Advertising in the map of Fresno County
• Display of your company’s brochure/information in our lobby
• Your company’s name on the Chamber’s website with a direct link to your site
• Advertising opportunities on the Chamber’s website
• Promote your events on the Member’s Only calendar of events section on the Chamber’s website

THE CHAMBER IS YOUR MEETING PLACE
The Chamber offers the following meeting facilities for rent to its members:

Gottschalks/Lyles Board Room
• Seating for 72
• Full size kitchen
• Podium
• Projector and laptop
• Internet access
• TV and VCR
• Local phone service
• Conference call

Caglia Room
• Seating for 8 to 10
• Internet access
• Dry erase board
• Chalk board
• Local phone service
• Conference Call

Johanson Room
• Seating for 5 to 8

Call us today to reserve your date or to find out pricing and other information.
(559) 495-4800
info@fresnochamber.com
www.fresnochamber.com.