CHAMBER NEWS
By John Courtis, Executive Director, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
THIS PANDEMIC HAS caused us all to pivot, get creative, move out of comfort zones, and truly challenge the status quo. The Chamber team is suddenly acting like Steven Spielberg or Penny Marshall and learning on the fly about video and virtual meetings and events. I am so very proud of Tania Pavlak, who has led the technology charge, Sheryl Hehe, who has kept the office business side straight, and Diana Wise for helping us all to hold it together! Huge thanks also to the board of directors for the support.
As I have said to many, the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce could not have maintained its mission and presence without the financial support of our loyal members, especially our Platinum and Gold Partners.
The Platinum Partners are 1st Bank Yuma, AEA Federal Credit Union, Arizona Public Service, Arizona Western College, Yuma Regional Medical Center, and the Yuma Sun. Our Gold Sponsors are Blackhawk Broadcasting, D&H Electric, El Dorado Broadcasters, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, Yuma International Airport, and the Yuma Investment Group.
Since mid-March, the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce has produced five “Virtual” Lunch and Learn Events:
1. Understanding the PPP, SBA and Unemployment Benefits
2. Keeping Your Home Safe and Sanitary
3.The Arizona Commerce Authority
4. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5. Advocating for Children During this Pandemic with Amberly’s Place.
We delivered three training sessions: Customer Service, Team Building, and the Communication of Sales. We participated in the YRMC Drive – In Appreciation Event and the Chamber Ambassadors, Board and Staff did a “Love Caravan” for the Yuma County Health Department and presented each employee (all 100 of them!) with a $10 gift card for lunch on us!
The “Yuma” thing about the gift cards is that most of them were paid with through donations and offers to help!
We produced a “Chalk Art Contest” to give families things to do, and we had many dozens of entries.
Additionally, we produced a restaurant list complete with who is open, who is doing delivery and who is doing drive up, for all restaurants in Yuma County, whether the restaurant was a member or not.
We sponsored “We Are Open” signs to be placed in the windows of all businesses, “Buy Local Gift Cards” ad campaign on Cable TV, “We’re Open For Business” ad campaign on Broadcast TV, Radio ads on “Shopping Locally,” and billboards in South County with our Shop Locally campaign.
We have been on countless conference calls and zoom meetings to advocate for Expanded Rural Broadband, the Proper Fairgrounds relocation, BUILD grants for widening Highway 95 and much more. We have tried our level best to give all of you the most current and up-to-date information via e-mail blasts to help all of you through this crisis.
We are privileged and honored to support businesses in Yuma and are gratified by our hundreds of members who provide the revenues that allow us to do it.