Chamber Programs
The Chamber of Commerce has a full slate of programs that it produces throughout the year to serve Albany businesses and community.
The Chamber is partnering with the City of Albany to offer a Facade Improvement Program to Albany businesses. The progrma will reimburse up to 50% of expenses for the improvements listed below, up to $2,500. Launching in July 2010, the current pool of matching funds is $10,000.
Qualifying improments: New signs; new paint; new awning(s); planting pots, soil and plants; doors, windows or lighting. Click on the heading link above to download the application packet.
Monthly Business Mixers
One of the chief tenets of our mission is to support and encourage a thriving, collegial business community in Albany. Our popular mixers provide members and prospective members an opportunity to meet business colleagues and network in a casual atmosphere. Hosted by Chamber Members, these events are normally held the last Wednesday of the month. Visit the events page to see when the next mixer is scheduled.
Green business is becoming business as usual in Albany. Operating your company efficiently saves money, period. Whether you call it clean, lean or green, efficient business practices keep your company current, competitive, and in environmental compliance. Business practices that save waste and resources also improve employee morale, meet community and customer expectations, and increase your chances of attracting positive press coverage. Smart businesses in Albany know that green business is good business.
The Find it in Albany program is our answer to a traditional "Shop Local" program. Most residents would like to shop local, but don't know where to get what they are looking for. Our Find it in Albany includes a website where anyone can search for businesses by type and name in Albany (FindItInAlbany.com), and popular Find it in Albany maps that display member businesses on a convenient map of the City of Albany. This program is sponsored by the City of Albany, as well as businesses who chose to advertise on the Find it in Albany maps. The FiiA program targets new residents and businesses, sending them the FiiA map along with information about member businesses.
Lights on Solano
Sponsored by members Arkin Tilt Architects, Almost Everything Communications, and the City of Albany, the Chamber has installed decorative LED lights on the light posts on lower Solano (between San Pablo and the BART tracks). In addition to using highly efficient LED lights, we've also installed light-sensitive timers so that the lights are only on when it is dark. We are delighted to help make Solano an attractive, appealing place to shop and dine. We hope one day to be able to expand this program to San Pablo area, but those light posts are owned by CalTrans, and any program must go through a lengthy approval process.
Holiday Events
The Chamber of Commerce and the Solano Avenue Association are responsible for the holiday lights strung down Solano Avenue in December. The two organizations have also teamed up for other activities, including the popular "Santa on Solano" weekends in December, which in 2009 served over 600 families.
Ribbon Cutting Program
When a member opens a new business or an expansion of their existing business, we're happy to show up with our giant scissors and offer an official ribbon cutting. This is a fun way to bring attention to new and growing businesses.
Albany Citizen and Student of the Year
Each Summer the Chamber of Commerce selects an adult citizen and an Albany student to be honored as Citizen and Student of the year for their contributions to the Albany community. The honorees and their families are our guests at a special dinner in their honor, and appear in the Solano Stroll parade.
Fourth of July Ice Cream
This is a small activity, but one of our most popular! For more than 35 years, the Chamber of Commerce has hosted a free ice-cream giveaway at the City's Fourth of July Celebration. This fun event has been sponsored for the last several years by Bright Star Montessori School.
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