Vacaville Chamber reports membership growth; council approves $61,800 membership agreement

The Vacaville City Council received the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce's 2024-25 annual report, approved the chamber's 2025-26 program of work and authorized payment of $61,800 for membership and services. The motion to accept the report and approve the fee passed unanimously.

Chamber president and CEO Matt Pulsipher told the council the organization's membership increased since June: the chamber reported 483 members at June 30 and said membership had grown to about 503 at the time of the presentation. Pulsipher highlighted programs supported by the city agreement, including workforce-development efforts, the Launchpad entrepreneurship event, leadership programming and an initiative that uses ARPA funding to promote local small-business opportunities.

Don Burris, the city's director of economic development services, presented the staff report and introduced Pulsipher. Pulsipher described the chamber as a 501(c)(6) membership organization focused on marketing, advocacy, networking and leadership development for local businesses. He said the chamber's Launchpad event grew from 69 registrants in 2023 to 104 in 2024 and that the chamber expected additional growth in 2025.

Council members praised the chamber's member outreach and programs. Council discussion touched on workforce development, the chamber's scholarship program and outreach metrics; Pulsipher said the chamber would provide additional information, including an employee-count estimate of the membership base, in follow-up communications.

Vote: The council moved, seconded and approved the staff recommendation by roll call; all members recorded "yes." The action and vote details appear in the actions[] section below.

Ending: The council directed staff to proceed with the membership payment and accepted the chamber's program of work for 2025-26.