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South Valley Chamber reports tourism and small-business gains in 2024
Summary
The South Valley Chamber of Commerce told the Sandy City Council its 2024 initiatives produced large digital outreach, increased room nights tied to sports events, and expanded small-business programs including scholarships and an accelerator.
Jay Francis, president and CEO of the South Valley Chamber of Commerce, presented the chamber’s 2024 annual report to the Sandy City Council on April 22.
Francis told the council the chamber’s tourism and sports-event initiative produced “over a hundred thousand attendees and just about 41,000 room nights” in 2024, and a digital campaign that produced more than 2 million impressions and more than 10,000 clicks for winter tourism outreach. He said a $48,000 tourism investment returned what he described as a significant economic impact for the region.
The chamber also highlighted small-business programming. Francis said the chamber ran two business-accelerator cohorts in 2024 with 26 participants, held nine targeted boot camps, hosted 11 Chamber 101 sessions, and presented 16 ribbon cuttings in Sandy. The chamber reported 96 new members in 2024, 37 of those from Sandy, and said 38% of its overall membership is based in Sandy. He also noted the Junior Women in Business program graduated 25 students and awarded $1,000 scholarships.
Council members thanked Francis and chamber staff for the programs and for working with city economic development staff. Councilmember Marcy Hausman praised the chamber’s training and partnership; Councilmember Cindy Sharkey and Councilmember Allison Stroud both voiced appreciation for programs that connect small businesses and youth to mentoring and outreach.
Francis invited councilmembers to meet a Sandy-based young entrepreneur whose new storefront, Joypop, had opened on State Street; he also brought a cooler of sample products to share with council members.
The council heard the report as an informational item; no vote was required or taken.
Why it matters: chamber-led tourism and business development initiatives affect local hotel occupancy, small-business support, and the city’s economic strategy. The presentation gave the council current metrics and program priorities, and reinforced collaboration between city economic development staff and the chamber.
