Antioch Chamber launches The Chamber Cares program in September
To help local businesses impacted by crime
The Antioch Chamber of Commerce held a fundraising golf tournament over the summer to raise money to give back to Antioch businesses in a new program entitled “The Chamber Cares”.
As a Chamber that supports the community, we created a fund to help businesses during the most unfortunate and demoralizing times. Many of our small business owners work long hours and are worried how they can increase revenue to make payroll. Imagine at this point getting hit by criminal behavior that breaks the front window, steals vital tools, or causes unforeseen mayhem that pushes their entrepreneurial dreams to the edge of closing. The police get called but due to changes in state law property crimes are a low priority item and it seems that no one cares. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce and local Antioch businesses have pitched in to help and let you know that we care. We will show up with a check to help offset the cost of the deductible for all small businesses in Antioch- not just Chamber members.
Sean Wright, CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, and former Mayor of the City of Antioch, explained, “I was tired of showing up to places of business after a crime with sorry as my only offering. I wanted to do something more and so I asked the business community to donate. We were able to raise $15,000 and will be able to help 30 small businesses this year with checks of $500.”
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our lives, our families, our communities, and our businesses. We performed a survey this year of our business members to find out how they are doing and what we can do to help. We found out that 75% of our small businesses are drastically down in revenue with 20% likely to never reopen. Is it a surprise that their biggest need is financial help?
About the Chamber
Since 1938, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce has been providing services to local businesses to help them -and our city – succeed. The mission of the Chamber is to promote the Antioch Community, to represent and advocate for businesses with government, to help businesses to grow and to thrive through networking and educational opportunities, and to help create economic growth and jobs for our region.
For more information about the Chamber, its members and its services, visit www.antiochchamber.com