Payson chamber highlights 'Garage to Great' program after $92,000 governor grant

Jim Roland, president and CEO of the chamber (as identified in the meeting), told the Payson City Council on Jan. 15 that the chamberis launching a "Garage to Great" initiative to help local home-based businesses grow.

The chamber received a $92,000 grant from the governor's office to support the program, Roland said. He described the effort as aimed at helping about 100 small home-based operations expand their revenue and, if they choose, move out of garage-based operations into commercial space.

Roland recapped 2024 chamber activities including ribbon cuttings, business awards, networking events and a community guide mailed to about 15,000 homes. He said the chamber added 53 new members last year and now lists about 159 members overall. Roland asked councilmembers to let staff know if they and their guests will attend the chamber gala Feb. 6 at the Santaquin City Hall multipurpose room.

Council members and staff responded with appreciation for the chamber's work and discussed potential collaboration: identifying available office space in the city, connecting the chamber's intern with city economic-development staff, and promoting the chamber's youth and workforce events. Councilor comments included offers to coordinate with staff to create a database of available office spaces and to involve the upcoming Business Innovation Center as space becomes available.

The chamber also promoted other ongoing programs and events including Small Business Saturday, an athlete-of-the-week social program, a passport-to-summer promotion and family bowling nights. Roland said the chamber currently has two part-time staff and an executive assistant, and that grant funds will be used to support business services and marketing.

Council members thanked Roland and chamber staff for their work and asked staff to follow up on ways the city can help with business space information and program coordination.