Monticello Chamber of Commerce

2nd Quarter 2010 Newsletter

The Monticello Chamber of Commerce is off to a great start this year!  We have made many improvements this year to help you be successful. The first quarter of 2010 has seen us meeting regularly each week and with good participation from local members. We have had a very diverse group of guest speakers each week and have also heard from local businesses. Remember that if you would like to let the chamber members know about your business and what you can offer, there are spaces available at the luncheon meetings.
The Chamber has launched a new community website for citizens and businesses alike to take advantage of at www.monticelloutah.info. As a chamber member, you can create an account on the site, and add your business listing along with banner ads. If you prefer, a member of the chamber staff can add your business for you at a minimal $10.00 fee. The site is also available for people to get local weather, news and events. They can also post classifieds and forum posts. This encourages use of the site which in turn gives local businesses exposure.

We held the first annual Abajo Winter Festival in February. The first years we expected to see low attendance, but it had enthusiastic support from local businesses and provides a great opportunity to invite people to Monticello in a typically slow time of the year. See more in the attached article about the Abajo Winter Festival.

The Monticello Chamber has also partnered with the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce to provide more business for both communities. This partnership will not only encourage visitors stay and shop in our respective communities, but to encourage them to stay in our sister communities as well. We have already seen good benefits in working with Moab.
The Chamber of Commerce has also been influential in re-establishing the Monticello Economic Development Committee. Though they work for the same purpose, the Monticello Chamber and the Monticello EDC would sometimes be working on different projects and try to cover more ground but with the resources available, little would get done and the EDC was dissolved for a period. Currently the Chamber has been working with the city of Monticello to get committee members for the new EDC from the chamber and the community to foster better communication between the groups so that more can be accomplished for the business development of the community. They are a great group and are already hard at work! We have also been utilizing the resources of the San Juan County Economic Development Committee for advertising purposes and we give them our many thanks!

Into the 3rd Quarter…

As you can see the Chamber has been working to help your business and the city of Monticello, but we aren’t stopping there. We will be promoting a Shop Local campaign and eagerly promoting the local businesses, especially Chamber Members, as your support to local business and community is appreciated. When people shop local, more money stays in the community.

Customer Service is also on our priority list for this quarter. When the economy is down people tend to (understandably) look for the lowest bidder. Successful businesses have been able to counter that with outstanding customer service, the Chamber will also be holding affordable customer service workshops for you and your employees to help your business weather bad economic times. When things do get better and people can spend more money, they will know they can count on your business for great customer service experience.

As you can see, the Monticello Chamber of Commerce works for you and our community. Only together can we reach our highest goals. We must continue to work together by referring customers to other businesses in town. If you don’t carry the product or service the customer is looking for, then be aware of other businesses you can send them to. It will come back to you and the community in the end, and the customer will remember that you put them first.

If you are a member of the chamber we thank you, and look forward to bringing you more benefits as a member. If you are not a member, become part of something bigger. Help us and your fellow businesses in town make Monticello even better!