Message from the Chairman of the Board

  As I begin my term as Chairman of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, the challenges facing the Chamber and our members is formidable and at times a bit overwhelming. The State’s new fiscal budget falls short of promised sound economic practices. Our elected State legislative representatives have decided to borrow from the future and take from the present to meet budgetary needs. This decision has significant ramifications on the City of Concord and the Concord business community.

  The State will be borrowing $2M from the City which it intends to pay back in three years and will be taking $6M from the City’s redevelopment fund to help balance the budget. These actions will significantly impact the City’s ability to implement development plans that will enhance the community and grow our business community.

  In spite of actions taken by the State, the City of Concord’s Economic Vitality Strategy, which sets the vision, goals and priorities for all economic development efforts by the City, clearly demonstrates the City’s strong commitment to our members and business community to implement a new marketing strategy to brand Concord as the business engine for Contra Costa County, attract new businesses and investments to Concord, retain business, and develop distinct strategies for key districts within the City (Clayton Road, West Concord, and Monument Boulevard). 

  The Chamber has been an active participant and resource for the City during the development of their Economic Vitality Strategy. Our futures are inexorably intertwined with each other- a strong City will have a growing Chamber and a strong Chamber reflects a growing City.

  In addition, our elected City Council Members have approved a revision to the City’s Policy and Procedures No. 142, changing the title to Local Vendor Preference for the Purchase of Supplies, Services, and Equipment and increasing the local vendor preference from 1% to 5% to increase business opportunities for local Chamber members and other community businesses to do business with the City. This change in policy and procedure is another example of the City of Concord’s strategy to support the Concord business community.  Kudos goes to City for finding and putting in place an economic policy to help the Concord business community.

  The City’s pro-business actions have helped reduce the challenges facing the Chamber and our members. The Chamber is committed to our vision, goals and priorities as being the voice of the Concord business community. 

  I would like to encourage all of our Chamber members to get involved with the Chamber - the future is ours to shape.

Curtis Lindskog
Chairman of the Board