Rosie Thomas, executive director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, told the Coos Bay City Council the chamber has rebuilt membership to about 457 after a midterm invoicing error removed roughly 125 members and said the chamber helped secure a $20,000 grant to start a "source local" seafood campaign.

Thomas said the chamber restarted regular outreach and programming, including a weekly "chamber minute" video, a Chamber Coins for Kids youth program with 10 participating businesses, expanded social media and newsletter distribution, and partnerships with the South Coast Development Council (SCDC) and other regional entities. "We created a Chamber Coins for Kids program," Thomas said, describing participating businesses that give small rewards to children who present a chamber coin.

The council heard details about the chamber's events calendar and fundraising: the chamber staged a home show in 2025 with more than 70 vendors and attendance the chamber estimated at roughly 2,000 people, hosted weekly business luncheons and political forums, and reported an overall budget increase over the past year. Thomas said the chamber had filled some building rental slots to help cover operating costs and that membership renewals and new enrollments are averaging about five new members per month.

Thomas credited partner organizations for the new programming and grant success. She said the chamber partnered with the South Coast Development Council and the Small Business Development Center on joint board training and that the SCDC secured a $20,000 grant (referenced in the meeting as coming through regional workforce or development partners) to fund the source-local seafood campaign aimed at raising awareness and involving students in a cooking contest.

The council asked for membership specifics during the presentation. Thomas responded that invoicing errors during a prior year led to a loss of about 125 entries in the membership book and that the roster had been rebuilt to about 457 active contacts, with monthly newsletters and outreach renewed. She also described staff training and use of artificial intelligence for budgeting and marketing work, while cautioning the council that AI outputs require verification.

The chamber previewed several upcoming community events, including a return of the home show in April 2026 and the chamber's Wednesday business connection luncheons starting in September. Thomas closed by inviting council members and the public to contact the chamber to participate or sponsor new initiatives.

The presentation was delivered during the council's regular meeting and was informational; no formal action was taken on the chamber's report.