April 11, 2022
Cotati City Council Members:
For your consideration during your 2022-23 budget sessions, Cotati Chamber of Commerce is requesting a grant of $15,000 for providing business promotion and visitor center support. As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an enormous stress on the Chamber. We lost most of our funding during the 2020 and 2021 year due to the shutdown. We also lost 15-20% of our membership renewal due to business closures and the lack of new business this past year. We spent the majority of the 2021 year continuing to distribute ever-changing information and resources, connecting with membership and working to help Cotati businesses in anyway possible.
Once the State reopened, we were able to host the Cotati Music Festival in October. It was a great success for the town, tourism and local businesses. We were able to turn a profit, but not a large as we hoped. We didn’t have as much time to secure sponsorships, but that should change this coming year.
Here’s a list of some of the efforts the Chamber makes on behalf of the City (before and during the COVID shutdown):
• Serving as Information Center, giving directions and information to all walk-ins, phone inquiries, and email inquires
• Partnered with the City of Cotati by providing all information regarding a business directory for downtown kiosks
• Distributing city and county information to residents, visitors, and potential re-locators • Representing Cotati at regional Chamber events and Economic Development Board quarterly meetings
• Hosting quarterly information and education meetings for Chamber members including a State of the City by the mayor, marketing and communication learning opportunities, and other sessions as
requested by members
• Host in person and virtual mixers, ribbon cuttings or attend member special events, including anniversaries and business expansions
• A bi-weekly electronic newsletter that goes to more than 650 subscribers that highlights new chamber members, events and happenings by Chamber members and city events and updates
• Provide new content daily for businesses on social media. We also share all city updates and other updates from local organizations and business members through social media • Passing along information about member businesses to the Community Voice, Press Democrat, and other online community news sources
• Working in collaboration with Cotati’s recreation department, local designers, and a local printer to produce and distribute Explore Cotati, detailing Chamber businesses alongside recreation opportunities
for all ages
• Partnering with the Cotati Historical Society and hosting monthly historic walking tours starting Spring of 2022. These tours should bring more tourism and business to Cotati. • Hosting events throughout the year to attract visitors to Cotati who interact with local businesses and learn what Cotati has to offer. Those include:
• Music Festival, which attracts 850+ attendees
• Oktoberfest, a well-established event attracting 800+ attendees Cotati Chamber of Commerce 216 E. School Street, Cotati CA 94931 cotati.org • Shop & Stroll, an annual event held downtown
• Sponsor and help host the Cotati Farmer’s Market, where we host a booth and handle all beverage sales for each event
• Co-host the Business Expo (a new annual event) along with Rohnert Park Chamber and Hispanic Chamber, promoting local businesses
We thank you very much for acknowledging in this manner the work that the Chamber does to promote Cotati’s business community.
At this time, we would like to request the approved funding be provided to the Chamber.
Sincerely,
Liz Derammelaere
Executive Director
CC: Erin Armstrong, Chamber of Cotati 2022 President
Cotati Chamber of Commerce 216 E. School Street, Cotati CA 94931 cotati.org