EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
It was generally a positive year for L.A. County’s 25 largest chambers of commerce, with 18 chambers increasing their budgets from the year previous, one holding steady and six reporting decreases.
Longstanding No. 1, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, boosted its budget by $400,000, to $4.2 million. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce was the only other chamber to see its budget increase by six figures, moving up three spots to No. 5 with a $1.2 million budget for the year.
Of those reporting decreases, No. 4 Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce was hit the hardest, shedding 12.5 percent of its budget, to $1.4 million.
With its budget declining for the second consecutive year, the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau dropped back a spot to No. 7. Catalina shed $100,000 from the previous year’s $1.1 million.
Only six of those reporting 2004 projections anticipate cuts, while 14 expect increases.
Nicole Taylor
THE PACESETTER
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
The L.A. chamber, perennial leader on the list of chambers of commerce as ranked by annual budgets, has once again seen an increase in members, providing more evidence of a turnaround. Membership hit 1,450 companies, up 8 percent from a year ago and 13 percent from its nadir of 1,283 companies two years ago.
The growth has come during an economic slowdown, when companies typically pull back from chamber memberships.
A year ago, the chamber was among several high-profile groups campaigning against San Fernando Valley secession. This year, the chamber staked out several high-profile positions, including opposing the recall of Gov. Gray Davis and advocating for workers’ compensation reform.
The chamber is now in the process of broadening its advocacy efforts. Earlier this year, the board voted to expand its membership to include representatives of ethnic chambers and other regional business organizations. Later this fall, the chamber is set to debut a regional advocacy network, tying into the databases of dozens of other local business organizations.
Its board has taken the unprecedented step of asking Chairman George Kieffer, Vice Chair Chris Martin and Second Vice Chair Liam McGee to continue in their posts for another year. Until now, all executive board posts have rotated each year. All three have accepted.
Howard Fine
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