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Umatilla Chamber highlights membership growth, community events in 2024 report
Summary
The Chamber told council it added 83 new members in 2024, launched a new website and expanded programming, including quarterly business luncheons, ribbon cuttings and the Distinguished Citizens awards banquet. The Chamber asked the community to nominate businesses and citizens for May awards.
The Greater Umatilla Chamber of Commerce told the City Council on March 4 that membership and programming expanded in 2024, with the Chamber reporting a net increase of 83 new members, a new website and multiple community events.
The Chamber director (name not specified in the meeting transcript) said the organization launched an updated website with online payment capability, grew social media reach and added member services such as a monthly business spotlight developed in partnership with the city’s communications staff. The director corrected an earlier figure in the packet and reported 83 new members for 2024.
The Chamber hosted four quarterly business luncheons in the past year; average attendance was about 15, with a high of 33 when state Representative Grace Smith spoke. The director said 38 businesses participated in the city’s Sixth Street trick-or-treat event and six businesses entered a business-decorating contest. A pumpkin-carving contest received 518 community votes.
The Chamber helped coordinate six ribbon cuttings last year — including the open of the new Umatilla Clinic and local apartment projects — and supported the Fish in the Brave veterans fishing event organized by Chamber member Tony Fisher and Fisher’s Dash Outfitters, which registered 110 veterans and hosted 87 participants the day of the event.
The Chamber and the school district co-hosted a Distinguished Citizens award banquet that drew about 70 attendees; the 2024 business of the year was Old Days Restaurant and the citizen of the year was Randy Garrett. The director invited nominations for the 2025 awards, saying the selection committee will review community nominations and announcing the next banquet for Friday, May 16.
The director closed by reminding businesses and residents about upcoming Chamber events, including a chamber luncheon on Tuesday, March 11 with PPE Oregon as speaker.
Ending: The Chamber asked council and residents to encourage membership and to submit nominations for the Distinguished Citizens awards by the posted deadline.
