Santa Rosa Chamber to relocate downtown

The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it has signed a lease for ground floor office space at 50 Old Courthouse Square and will be relocating to downtown Santa Rosa in January 2016.

“This opportunity to be located right in the middle of downtown arose just as this area is being revitalized,” says Jonathan Coe, Chamber President/CEO. “Through our work with downtown businesses and property owners, and with reunification of the square scheduled for next year, the Chamber is committed to helping create a more vibrant downtown for our community.”

The initiative of the property owner, Airport Business Center, was a critical component of the Chamber’s planned relocation. “We would not be moving were it not for the lease arrangement the Airport Business Center created for us,” says Coe. “This speaks to their investment in creating a strong and flourishing downtown Santa Rosa.” Natalie Balfour, Asset and Project Manager for the Airport Business Center adds, “Putting together this opportunity, getting the Chamber back into Downtown, is part of our investment in the revitalization of courthouse square.”

Santa Rosa city staff also provided assistance and voiced support for the Chamber’s plans to move downtown. Santa Rosa City Manager Sean McGlynn says, “Given our many collaborative efforts with the Chamber, proximity makes partnership that much easier. Having a physical presence downtown supports the Chamber’s energies around the vitality of our core business district, and allows us to quickly pull them in on the broad issues facing our city. Together our local and regional influence is stronger.”

With an expanded meeting room for seminars and workshops, the central location provides greater accessibility for business meetings and forums as well as being more easily accessible to the general public.

The facility also accommodates a better configuration of usable space for 21 staff members who run the Chamber’s programs, including Visit Santa Rosa, Sonoma County BEST and the Santa Rosa Young Professionals Network.

“The Chamber’s move is timely as we need their leadership and vision for a better downtown,” says Julie Kawahara, owner of Kindred Fair Trade Handcrafts. “Their presence in the heart of Santa Rosa is critical to influencing policy, growing our economy and supporting businesses downtown.”