Colusa Chamber to merge
The Colusa County Chamber of Commerce recently made a bombshell announcement that the organization will merge with the Colusa County Economic Development Corporation and the Colusa County Business and Visitors Center.
The three organizations currently operate as separate nonprofit entities at the Davison Court business center on Highway 20, south of Colusa.
Economic Development Chairwoman Lynda Reynolds said the decision will allow the new organization to streamline operations in an effort to better respond to the current economic climate.
Reynolds said that although there were several reasons for the merger, the most important was the need to share resources during tough economic times.
"We all have a common goal, and that is to make sure businesses come here, stay here and expand here," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the EDC board of directors, which includes Ed Hulbert of Colusa Industrial Properties, Jim Reading of Superior Tire Service and former Assessor Dan O'Connell of O'Connell Ranch, are very supportive of the merger.
Chamber officials are also pleased.
"It just makes more sense," said Chamber spokesman Tom Indrieri. "The visitors center was already a one-stop place with 200 to 300 visitors a month. The public will now be able to see what it is that we can provide."
Interim Chamber President Aaron Moore said he is 100 percent behind the merger.
"It's a big step in a positive direction," Moore said. "It's the same people helping the same folks. We can pool our resources and our talent to provide better service to the community."
As a result of the merger, the Chamber of Commerce will expand its board of directors from nine member to 11, with Economic Development and the Visitors Center functioning as separate committees.
Indrieri said the chamber is in the process of updating the organization's bylaws, which have not been updated since 1997, and renewing its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service, which still lists the organization as Downtown Business and Professional Association.
Reynolds said she and Visitors Center manager Melanie Jacobs will immediately begin working on the development of new policies and procedures for the expanded organization.
"I think this will only bring good things," said Jacobs, who is responsible for the Farmers Market and Colusa County Bounty. "It has always been a confusing message to get out what each group does. This will make it easier."
The merger had unanimous support of all those involved in the three organizations, Indrieri said.
The new Colusa County Chamber of Commerce will seek nominations for six open seats on the board of directors next month, with a total reorganization planned for November.
The Chamber of Commerce meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com .
