Coming Events
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Business After 5 Mixer
Bank of Marin
Wed. May 11
Health Insurance
Lunch 'n Learn
Tues, May 10
Leadership Institute Fundraiser
Thurs, May 19
Women's Health
Seminar
Sat, May 21
Senior Health Fair
Wed. May 25
Click on image
for detailed calendar.
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Renewals
& Membership Milestones | |
50 Years
Wells Fargo Bank
15 Years
Mulberry Street Pizzeria
10 Years
American Building/The Kniesche Family
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| Our Staff |
E-News edited by Beth Galleto
Taletha Hufford
Administrative Assistant
Laurie Vermont
Leadership Institute Coordinator,
Interim Events Manager
Joanne Webster
Director of Marketing and Community Promotion
Leonard Weingarten
Business Development
Jean Kramers
Membership Development
Rick Wells
President and CEO
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Gary O. Phillips |
City Council Agrees with Chamber -- Adds Jobs
In October 2010, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted by significant majority in favor of recommending to the City Council that Target be approved to locate and operate in San Rafael. The vote was taken after hearing and carefully considering points made by Target representatives and some of its key opponents. While the vote was a clear statement by members of a cross section of San Rafael businesses -- large and small, providers of a range of goods and services, and new as well as those long established -- Chamber Board members nevertheless shared many of the concerns of others when considering the possibility of Target locating in San Rafael. Therefore, we appreciated the City Council's decision to commission an independent study to address key issues.
The study provided additional substance in support of the Chamber's recommendation. (Click here to read the study.) Significant findings of the study include: no long term detriment to other San Rafael businesses, only minor (2.9%) reduction in grocery and pharmaceutical sales, Target store would primarily capture sales in retail store categories that are not currently well represented, the project would generate approximately 164 net new jobs, and generate $646,000 in net annual fiscal benefit to the City of San Rafael. We believe the Chamber played an important role in Mayor Boro's and Councilmembers Heller and Levine's vote to approve Target. Of course it didn't hurt to receive the same recommendation by the City's staff, its Planning Commission and the clear positives as reported in the independent Community Impact Report.
We understand a limited number of San Rafael businesses might be negatively impacted. For these businesses, even a "modest" decrease in sales is an appropriate matter of concern that needs to be addressed. For this reason, your Chamber plans to assist members and other San Rafael businesses in a variety of ways, including outreach and forums conducted by members and others. It's important to the Board members that all San Rafael businesses co-exist and prosper. Of equal importance to the Chamber, San Rafael residents will be given the opportunity and choice for additional shopping alternatives, jobs and a City better able to provide needed public safety and other services.
Gary O. Phillips Chairman of the Board - San Rafael Chamber of Commerce |
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Spotlight
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Linbro Provides a Variety of Fine Foods Linbro Incorporated has been providing its customers with a variety of wonderful edible experiences in the world of international import/ export of food products and ingredients since 1978. Long standing partnerships with leading suppliers have enabled this well respected family-operated company to deliver the highest quality of food products in various formats from throughout the world. With a focus on various food products from East Asia and Southeast Asia, Linbro also provides products from Europe and other world-wide locations. Its rich and diverse variety of food selections allows Linbro to serve industrial, food service and retail companies seeking selected ingredients. Linbro's wide range of food products and presentation formats includes vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, grains, flour and starch, noodles and seafood items that are canned, dehydrated, in retort pouch, frozen, organic, or fruit puree and concentrates. In addition to its variety of food and selection options, overseas suppliers have entrusted Linbro Incorporated to serve as their marketing and sales channel. Headquartered in San Rafael, Linbro's representatives make frequent trips overseas to meet with their suppliers and carefully inspect their plants to make sure the highest standard of excellence and governmental guidelines are maintained. Linbro's primary goal is to build and maintain the highest level of customer relationships and service between its quality suppliers and valued customers. For more information, visit www.Linbro.com. Contact Vincent or George Lin at (415) 457-0880 or email info@linbro.com |
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Chamber News
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Top, Unicorn. Bottom, Ghilotti.
Photos by Trevor Henley
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Businesses Honored at
State of the City Dinner
Unicorn Group and Ghilotti Bros Inc. were honored as small and large businesses of the year at the State of the City Dinner April 8. The two businesses were recognized for their significant contributions to the local business community and support of the San Rafael community as a whole. Read more. Click here for additional Chamber News.
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County News
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Take Five Minutes to Help Your Chamber Help You
The Marin Economic Forum and the Workforce Investment Board of Marin County want your input in a survey of local businesses. The data will be aggregated and shared with the chamber's leadership with the goal with the goal of developing workforce programs to meet your needs for current and future employees. Your contribution of time and thought is greatly appreciated. All results remain confidential; your specific information will not be made public. Click here for the survey.
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City News
| | Protect Your Business from Commercial Burglaries
Police are investigating a string of night time commercial burglaries primarily occurring in downtown San Rafael. For more information and suggestions for protecting your business click here. ______________________________________________ Learn to be a Citizen Planner You can learn to evaluate and improve a proposed development at San Rafael Planning Academy 2011, Thursday evenings May 12 through June 23. Read more. ______________________________________________ Implement a Vision on June 15 Share your thoughts on transportation, accessibility, and development alternatives around the future Downtown San Rafael SMART station. Read more. |
| Member News |
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The Chamber's Health and Wellness Resource Group will hold a Free Seminar on breast health Saturday May 21, 10 to noon and a Senior Health Fair Thursday May 25, 2 to 4. Click on event for info.
Marin Sanitary Service has joined the California Business Alliance for a Green Economy, with its 1,000-plus members... Read more.
Ghirardo CPA has added two shareholders from its internal team:
Mike Domecus, tax, and Mike Shimmin, accounting and audit.
Read more.
The Panama Hotel has added Ben McAllister, restaurant manager, and Kelly Woodall, event coordinator, to its management staff. Read more.
The Marin League of Women Voters is co-sponsoring a forum on Housing: Needs, Constraints, Opportunities Wednesday, May 18 at Pickleweed Community Center. Read more.
More Member News
Chamber members: Please send your business news for this section to Taletha Hufford at frontdesk@SRChamber.com. Deadline for the May issue is Tuesday, May 31. Please put "Member News" in the subject line.
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