By Vicky Baxter,
Renton Chamber of Commerce

The term “chamber of commerce” is one of the oldest and most well-recognized brands in the world, but there is significant public misunderstanding of its meaning.

There is an old adage in the chamber world: “If you’ve seen one chamber, you’ve seen one.” But unlike that old adage, the Renton Chamber is not a one-size-fits-all.

For example, the Renton Chamber of Commerce participates in “Chambers without borders.” The idea is to partner with other local chambers for advocacy, events, ideas and to truly be a business network in the Puget Sound Region. This is a huge return on investment for our member businesses and the community.

We are part also of legislative coalitions that get our issues heard. Transportation issues, for example, are taking a toll on business. Education must be funded. Emergency fire, ambulance and police response must be a priority as our city continues to grow past that 100,000 population mark.

We also recruit and support economic development through our State of the City, Economic Forecast, Business Expo and Legislative Breakfast programs.

The Chamber hosts community events that honor locals making a difference (Ahead of the Class, New Teachers Breakfast, Citizen of the Year) and working with our local nonprofits (Renton Area Non Profits Unite) in a way adopted by the state of Washington as a model.

Bill Taylor, a former Renton Chamber CEO, began a legacy with the Renton Chamber that was later adopted by the State of Washington entitled RANU (Renton Area Non-Profits Unite). The idea was to partner with other nonprofits and share resources, ideas and not supplant one another. This chamber organization now numbers 62 nonprofit organizations.

Plus, like many other chambers, we offer the traditional networking opportunities: After Hours, Networking Breakfast, Brown Bag Lunch and Learn, Ribbon Cuttings. And with the addition of Ben Andrews as our new director of events, we do it with a feverous ambition for continuous improvement.

We’re also working on new events that fit the flavor of our city. RenCon is a new event coming in October that should attract millennials from our city and abroad.

For the community we also offer summer concerts. Every Friday through August, the Visitor Center is hosting local talent to come and showcase their music and art. The public is invited with a special invite to your family pet. We call it “Yappy Hour” and it runs from 5-7 p.m. every Friday next to the fountain outside the chamber.

We’re also getting some local restaurants in on the fun and all you have to do for a special “deal” is say “Yappy Hour.” We’ll tell you which ones are participating when you come to the concert. Come enjoy the fun and get a great deal too!

Coming later this summer we will be marketing “Tuesday Lunch Mob” so you never have to eat alone again. Each week a new local restaurant will be our meeting place. So come make new friends and support our local restaurants.

And don’t forget, we’re also a visitor center and want both locals and visitors to get to know this city better. We have extended summer hours until 6 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturdays and 2 – 6 p.m. Sundays.

Find us at www.gorenton.com and join us as we make a difference to our businesses and the community.

Vicky Baxter is the C.E.O. of the Renton Chamber of Commerce.