By Neal Heckman, Economic Vitality
Committee Vice Chair

In November 2010 the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) Board of Directors, at the recommendation of its Education Committee, decided it was time to inject the organization with a shot of adrenaline and revive the Economic Vitality Committee (EVC). The MPCC realized that additional attention was needed on local businesses, especially small businesses, to help them grow their business and thus create more jobs. 

The mission of the Economic Vitality Committee is to develop and foster economic growth initiatives for all types of businesses in our community and to build and to sustain linkages with local employers, education institutions, organizations, governments and nonprofits.  The vision of the Economic Vitality Committee is to develop a collaboration of regional businesses and organizations that creates new jobs and economic growth, and creates a total business atmosphere that encourages local graduates entering the business workforce to stay in the Central Coast. 

A group of 8 committee members launched the EVC on its new journey on December 10, 2010 and established its initial goals and a regular meeting date on the second Friday of the month (with a few exceptions). Our first goal focused on growing the committee membership with broad-based representation from stakeholders in the local business community. We accomplished that first goal with 16 committee members representing small and large businesses attending our April 8^th meeting. New members are still welcome. 

The next high priority goal was maintaining and improving our ongoing professional development and training programs. Thank you to Wendy Brickman of Brickman Marketing, who for the past 20 years has led our monthly Brown Bag, sponsored by 1^st Capital Bank, seminar programs   In addition, thank you to Laura Davis of Law Offices of Laura A. Davis, Theresa Thomae of  the Central Coast SBDC, Chris Hasegawa of CSUMB, for assisting with planning and support for the monthly Business Builders Workshops, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank. Visit mpcc.com online for the exact dates of these excellent programs.

Revitalizing the MPCC “Buy Local Program” produced the most excitement as our third goal.  To date there has been outstanding input from committee members, MPCC board members, MPCC staff, and invited guests.  Our research and brainstorming has brought us to a point where we have decided to survey the Chamber members to be sure we are on the right track. 

Our vision to date is that buying locally helps local businesses and conversely buying from local businesses helps the entire community.  Local businesses hire local people whose paychecks support the local economy.  And the local economy greatly influences the quality of life. 

You can feel good about spending money when buying locally, because the local tax revenues your purchases generate are helping communities on the Monterey Peninsula support parks, streets, lighting, libraries, public safety, and more.

The profits made by the local businesses besides supporting their local employee payrolls also recycle throughout the local business community as well as fostering the creation of new jobs.

Watch for more news on the MPCC “Buy Local Program” as it is launches later this year.

If you are interested in participating on the MPCC Economic Vitality Committee, please contact Neal Heckman at nealh@gopalace.com.