This year has been an extraordinary year for the Chamber and it can be widely attributed to the support from our members. With a down economy and uncertainty looming regarding the fate of our economy, the Chamber managed to close out the year stronger than ever with a record breaking number of new memberships.

Looking back at the last three years, the Chamber was able to identify the following trend for new members:

2008 - 37 new members

2009 - 38 new members

2010 -  44 new members

In 2011, as of today, December 23rd, 83 new members have joined the Chamber, nearly double the number of new members who joined the year before. This is a result of great marketing efforts not only by staff, but by the Chamber's Ambassador Group who dedicated the entire year to performing retention calls and membership visits to recruit new members. THANK YOU Ambassadors.

Without a doubt, 2011 has proven to be a year of success because it has validated the fact that there is a true benefit in membership beyond the power of networking and relationship building.

This year the Chamber hosted several educational workshops to arm its members with the tools necessary to begin paving the way towards running a succesful business. Workshops included:

-Training Dollar Opportunities for Business Owners

- How to Use Networking to Improve Business

- Implementing Social Media in your Marketing Plan

- Marketing Niches & Pillars

- Economic Development Business Forum

- Be Your Own Boss; Franchises Under $150K

- SBA Lender Roundtable

2011 was a great year for the Chamber and with the support of the community and our members, we know 2012 will be even better! We are looking forward to continuing to develop programs and offer educational seminars that will enhance our members' businesses and afford them the opportunity to find success!

 

 

 

What are your most fond memories of the Bean Festival?? We want to know! Blog with us and tell us!

 

Tracy is celebrating “25 Years of Beans” this year at the Annual Tracy Dry Bean Festival held on September 10^th & 11^th in Downtown Tracy.

 

Whether you have attended one Bean Festival or 24, you know that the historic festival is all about bringing families together and celebrating our community’s past, present and future.

 

Every year the festival participants have a chance to “catch-up” with old friends, meet new ones and take away offerings from local businesses, as well as purchase local keepsakes like souvenir wine glass, souvenir pins, and a festival t-shirts.  This year marks 25^th Anniversary and several local commemorative items will be displayed.

 

Due to the construction of the much anticipated, Downtown Plaza, the layout for this year’s festival will change.  The most notable change is the relocation of the Kids Carnival area from 6^th and Central to 10^th Street near the Tracy Press building. Another change will be the relocation of the Multi-Cultural stage which will now be located near 10^th & B Street. This stage will entertain crowds with a variety of community acts.

 

 

Two additional stages are scheduled to highlight local music and entertainment.  At the corner of 10th & Central the Main Stage is located with popular bands such as Latin Essence who are headlining Sunday afternoon.  The secondary stage is sponsored by The Great Plate on 8^th & Central will feature great bands. For the complete list of Main Stage entertainers view the line-up at the Bean Festival website, www.tracybeanfestival.com .

 

Returning this year is the crowd favorite, “Bean Pavilion”, located on Central Avenue between 9^th & 10^th Street.  The pavilion gives festival goers an opportunity to truly celebrate dry beans via bean samplings, variety of specialty dry beans for purchase, bean give-aways and cooking demonstrations. On Sunday, local chefs will compete for the prestigious title of “Best Chili in Town” at the annual chili bean cook off. 

 

Also returning this year is the Bean Run 5K/10K and the “Show-N-Shine” Car Show with over 75 classic cars on display.   

On Sunday, the festival will conclude with a 9/11 memorial tribute from Tracy Police Department, Tracy Fire Department, Tracy City Council, and other non-profit organizations from the community.

 

Join us and bring your friends, family and neighbors for a weekend full of FREE entertainment. 

 

For more information on festival events and entertainment, visit www.tracybeanfestival.com or call the Chamber of Commerce at 209-835-2131.

  

 

Tracy,

You are now able to obtain 40-90% off services from local restaurants, retailers, and other businesses through the Tracy Chamber's Try It Local Program! This new program is similar to Group On but much better for our community because 80% of the revenue generated through the deal purchases STAYS in Tracy!

Every Tuesday a "new deal" is featured on the Try It Local website and you have 48 hours to purchase the deal. Every deal has its own expiration date and terms and conditions so be sure to read the Deal Details when purchasing a coupon.

So far, deals have ran for DeVinci's Deli & Catering, El Castillo Cafe, Patriot Pest Management, Casa Flores Mexican Restaurant and Eagal Lakes Resort.

Over 100 "deals" or coupons, however you would like to refer to them as, have been purchased saving consumers over $1,000!

What restaurant, business, or retailer would you like to see next on Try It Local? We want to know....so BLOG with us and tell us!

If you have not already registered your email address to receive the weekly offers from Try It Local please log on to http://www.tryitlocal.com/tracy to sign up today!