EVERETT — The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce held an event Wednesday to celebrate its return after a 13-year absence.
The new chamber already has 77 members, according to CEO Wendy Poischbeg. It will serve as a networking opportunity for local companies and “advocate for policies that benefit our businesses,” she said during a presentation Wednesday.
Dick’s Drive In has already joined the chamber before its new South Everett location has finished, said Dani Scamehorn, assistant director of real estate for the local hamburger chain. It’s expected to open this summer.
“We want to be a part of the community as much as we can whenever we have locations in that community,” Scamehorn said. “We thought it was integral for us to be a part of Everett’s chamber of commerce.”
The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce first formed in 1892. It survived until 2011, when it merged with other business organizations to form Economic Alliance Snohomish County, a regional organization that represents companies across the county. At the time Everett’s chamber closed, over 700 businesses were members, Poischbeg said.
Since then, the city has lacked a local chamber. Last August, the City Council voted to spend $600,000 of American Rescue Act Plan funds to open the new chamber of commerce. It officially launched Jan. 1.
“It provides better connections, more consistent connections with the smaller businesses,” City Council member Ben Zarlingo said Wednesday. “The Economic Alliance is a little more optimized for bigger business and regional coordination, but there’s an element for coordinating all the businesses that work with each other for local synergy.”
Most cities in the area, like Marysville, Lake Stevens and Snohomish, have chambers already.
Poischbeg previously served as the CEO of Economic Alliance Snohomish County. She said the new chamber will work alongside the county-wide organization as partners.
“We’re all still together,” she said. “It’s just, the opportunity to be hyper-focused on Everett should have been happening years ago. Most of the large manufacturing businesses are here in Everett, and they need a dedicated voice just for them.”
Poischbeg said her goal is to grow the chamber to 400 members by the end of the year. Membership rates for the Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce range from $100 to $10,000 per year.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
