Mill Creek Chamber reports membership growth, new events and foundation for grants

The Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce told the City Council on Feb. 25 that membership and programming grew in 2024 and the organization is expanding services in 2025.

The presentation, given by Greg Ellen, president of the Mill Creek Chamber, and supported by City Manager Martin Yamamoto, highlighted a rise to 25 ‘Visionary’ members — the Chamber’s top sponsorship level — and the merger of Town Center programming into the Chamber’s events calendar. “We are at 25 Visionary members right now, which is the biggest number of Visionary members we've been at,” Ellen said.

The Chamber said it finalized creation of a Mill Creek Chamber Foundation as a 501(c)(3) to receive tax-deductible donations that will support scholarship and grant programs funded by proceeds from the Chamber’s events such as the golf tournament. The foundation is intended to make sponsorships more attractive to larger donors and to diversify the Chamber’s funding.

Ellen described a set of recurring networking programs — Engage Mill Creek, Coffee Connections and Third Thursday — and a growing Town Center committee that will run or rebrand local events including a May wine walk and a summer “Roper Romp.” He also said the Chamber has added regional firms, including larger HVAC and other companies that do business across Puget Sound, some joining as members to establish a local footprint.

Council members asked about the Chamber’s office at City Hall North and the group’s committee structure. Ellen said the Chamber’s “lunch and learn” series is outgrowing its current meeting room and that the City Hall North space — recently upgraded HVAC — has been helpful. Jeff Ritter was named as the Chamber’s executive director; Marcela (Marcella) Allen and Brian Trendler were identified as board members who attended the council meeting.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said closer, formalized relations with the Chamber could help Mill Creek coordinate on business attraction, land-use changes and legislative outreach. The Chamber identified a government relations committee as a 2025 priority to improve two‑way communication with city staff and elected officials.

What’s next: The Chamber will continue outreach to new businesses, expand Town Center events and use the foundation to funnel tax‑deductible contributions toward scholarships and grants. Council members expressed support and asked the Chamber to continue coordinating with city staff on Town Center programming and business attraction.

Ending: Council members thanked the Chamber and its volunteers for the presentation and for ongoing community work.