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Princeton Chamber of Commerce outlines programs, requests continued city support in budget talks
Summary
Jennica Cole, director of the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce, briefed the council on chamber activities, outlined a funding request for the upcoming budget, and thanked the city for use of the Prouty Syrian Community Building.
Jennica Cole, Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce director, asked the City Council on Feb. 3 to continue municipal support for the chamber in the upcoming budget cycle and described the chamber’s programs and recent activity.
Cole told the council the chamber — which she said has operated in the Prouty Syrian Community Building since the building opened in 1959 — has 324 members and several active volunteer roles: 12 board members and 24 ambassadors. She said the chamber and the city will both contribute financially to planned updates of the Community Building and that the chamber will act as a steward of the space.
Cole highlighted several chamber programs: a Chamber gift-card program that sold $46,130 in 12 months (Jan. 1–Dec. 31) and, she said, has kept about $200,000 circulating locally over four years; a chamber building-improvement grant program that has issued 34 facade grants and paid nearly $75,000 in assistance since the program began in February 2008; and a career, job and volunteer fair at Princeton High School that drew more than 600 students and over 50 businesses the prior year. She also noted the chamber’s role organizing events, ribbon cuttings and the annual Salute to Ag scholarship breakfast.
Cole asked the council to consider sponsoring Chamber activities such as the Main Street flower-pot program. She said each pot sponsorship is $25 and the flower-pot program costs the chamber more than $10,000 annually, with private support from Hornbaker Gardens for plant care. Council members thanked Cole and several — Hector, Marty and Michael — publicly praised the chamber’s contribution to community growth and tourism.
Why it matters: The chamber’s programs support downtown businesses and community events; the chamber’s budget request will be considered during the city’s budget process this spring. Cole gave council members a written “buddy” letter with the chamber’s funding request; the chamber asked that its support request look similar to last year’s allocation.
The chamber director thanked City Manager Theresa and Mayor Mabry for coordinating on building updates and invited council members to chamber networking events.
Ending: The chamber will present a written funding request to city staff and the council will review it during budget deliberations.
