Sunnyside commission approves name for new chamber, sets immediate steps to incorporate

The Sunnyside Community & Economic Development Commission voted to name the new business organization the Lower Valley Chamber of Commerce and agreed to begin the paperwork needed to incorporate and seek nonprofit status.

Commission Chair Britney Bridal moved to name the group, saying, “So, I’ll make a motion to ... Lower Valley Chamber of Commerce.” The motion carried on a voice vote; commissioners responded with multiple “ayes.”

The commission described the vote as a step to create a locally governed chamber that can recruit members, apply for grants and, over time, hire staff. Commissioners agreed the new organization should be separate from the city once it is formally established but that the commission would help launch the steering committee and early administrative work.

Why it matters: Commissioners said a chamber could centralize business outreach, support downtown projects such as a Main Street program, and provide a funding mechanism for initiatives that the city budget has cut in recent years. Several commissioners also noted that foundations and some grant programs will fund nonprofits more readily than a municipal government.

What the commission directed next: Members agreed on these immediate steps: - Perla Zapata and Karen Vandergraf will handle the business license and incorporation paperwork and begin the application process for 501(c)(3) status, the commission said during the meeting. - The commission will establish a steering committee of business leaders to develop bylaws, membership structure and initial outreach. Commissioners discussed targeting representatives from banks, real estate, retail, agriculture and legal fields for early recruitment. - The group set preliminary costs for startup: commissioners cited articles of incorporation fees (about $50, with an optional $50 expedited filing), an expected business-license fee in Sunnyside (roughly $100, depending on structure), and estimated third-party filing or startup assistance for nonprofit paperwork in a range the commission discussed as approximately $275–$600.

Commissioners debated whether the city should fund the start-up costs. The meeting record shows the consensus was that membership fees, donations and business sponsors should cover initial costs rather than the city budget.

Officer roles and timing: Commissioners discussed temporary officer assignments for filing purposes and agreed some positions will be recorded with the secretary of state to expedite incorporation. The group noted these initial assignments can be amended later once the formal board is seated. The commission also agreed to schedule a follow-up working session to complete filings and to invite local chamber advisors for guidance.

Next steps and schedule: Commissioners agreed to meet again in mid-March for a working session on paperwork and steering-committee recruitment and to target an April meeting for follow-up. Commissioners asked staff to draft a short flyer and outreach plan to begin recruiting steering-committee members from the business advisory pool.

Quoted from the meeting: Chair Britney Bridal, who moved the naming motion, said, “So, I’ll make a motion to, for, like, all those in favor ... Lower Valley Chamber of Commerce.” Later in the meeting she confirmed the administrative assignments: “Perla and Karen are gonna handle the business license and the application.”

Ending: Commissioners described the naming vote as the start of a multi-step process: create a steering committee, file incorporation paperwork, recruit initial members and apply for nonprofit status. They emphasized the organization should be independent of the city once established but aligned with city economic development goals.