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Duarte Chamber reports steady membership growth, plans mayor's prayer breakfast and Winterfest participation
Summary
The Duarte Chamber of Commerce presented a quarterly progress report Oct. 28, citing new members, festival participation and increased digital outreach after hiring a chamber liaison. The chamber promoted a Mayor's Prayer Breakfast planned for Nov. 13 and a membership drive tied to a January directory.
Kaltna Shah, executive director of the Duarte Chamber of Commerce, told the City Council on Oct. 28 that membership has increased modestly and the organization has resumed in-person networking and outreach.
Shah said the chamber hosted a networking breakfast, a fall festival co-hosted with CS Arts that attracted just over 1,000 attendees, a lunch-and-learn about health and life insurance, and a sold-out mixer at Santa Anita Park. She reported about 110 business inquiries, 82 traditional and digital promotions and 72 social-media posts in the July-to-September quarter. The chamber recently hired a chamber liaison to expand digital outreach.
Shah highlighted upcoming events that the chamber is organizing or supporting, including the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on Nov. 13 at the Siloam Cooper Auditorium (pre-sales end Oct. 31) and Winterfest activities. She said the chamber will run a membership drive in December and January to populate a printed business directory and will offer marketing support and social-media promotion to keystone members.
Council members thanked Shah for the increased social-media presence and suggested additional coordination between the chamber and city communications so event and business promotions reach broader audiences. Shah said the chamber distributes an e-blast on Mondays (city-sponsored items) and Wednesdays (member items) and plans more in-person networking in 2026, including a women's summit in May.
Council discussion also touched on practical barriers smaller, family-run businesses face in paying dues, and Shah said the chamber offers grace periods and informal payment plans in hardship cases.
The council moved to receive and file the chamber's update by unanimous voice vote.
