Where Business Meets Belonging: The Value of Supporting Community Events
How local sponsorship and civic partnership power economic vitality, strengthen community bonds, and cultivate a thriving downtown.
Downtown Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square was alive with energy this summer, not just as a gathering place, but as a demonstration of what’s possible when business and community work hand in hand. Through the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s Summer on the Square series, local companies and civic partners helped turn five weeks of family-friendly programming into something more: a strategic investment in placemaking, business retention, and a downtown that invites people to gather, engage, and belong.
Highlighting Poppy Bank’s ongoing support as Presenting Sponsor for the series, Khalid Acheckzai, President & CEO, said: "As a true community bank, we are passionate about supporting the economic prosperity of downtown Santa Rosa. We value these opportunities to bring the community together and support both local businesses and the local families that make this city so great."
Such initiatives serve multiple purposes: they bolster the local economy by supporting shops, restaurants, and small vendors; foster inclusivity and community cohesion; enhance the experience of visitors; and contribute to placemaking at the heart of Sonoma County.
Reflecting on Keysight’s long-standing commitment as a sponsor of this event series, Alicia Benson, Vice President of Workplace Solutions, shared: “Summer on the Square reinforces Keysight’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community impact. It enhances employee engagement through networking and learning, while contributing to economic vitality and placemaking—making Santa Rosa a more vibrant place to live and work."
These events are more than moments of entertainment—they’re proof points of what shared investment in place and people can achieve. The Summer on the Square series wouldn’t be possible without the civic-minded businesses and organizations who step up year after year. Poppy Bank returned as Presenting Sponsor, reaffirming its leadership in community engagement. Additional support from partners like Visit Santa Rosa, Keysight Technologies, the County of Sonoma, Wow Smiles, Renewal by Andersen, Sutter Health, The Krush 95.9 FM, Stellar XP, Dax Entertainment, and Northern California Public Media helped bring each week to life.
Their sponsorship does more than fund a stage or a sound system—it helps sustain a vibrant downtown economy, encourages foot traffic to local storefronts, and sends a clear message: that supporting community events is good business.
By aligning economic development with civic experience, the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber and its partners are cultivating a downtown where businesses thrive and residents feel at home—a place where economic vitality and community belonging go hand in hand.
