ATTACHMENT 3
Business Community Development Proposal
April 4, 2024
The Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) is incorporated under the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Laws of the State of California, 501(c)(6). It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for Public Purposes.
The Chamber is organized to:
➢ Promote member businesses and the competitive free-enterprise system of business. ➢ Promote member businesses, general economic growth, and business development in Lake Forest and the surrounding community by:
o Promoting Chamber programs of an economic nature for its members designed to broaden its membership and expand the potential income of all classifications of business.
o Promoting programs informative to its members.
o Continuing expansion of the “Loyal Locals” program through the continued development and enhancement of seasonal networking events, and business networking educational forums.
o Continuing partnership with the city to promote the business community and deliver large business, governmental, and community-based events. o Creating large community event(s) such as the Elf Yourself 5K o Reviving our Taste of Lake Forest event
The main goals of the Chamber are to develop programs, events, and activities that encourage community business involvement. The Chamber has enhanced marketing efforts to expand its outreach locally and increase business opportunities. The Chamber is investing heavily to get more members involved with the Chamber as increasing membership adds a greater value for its members and gives them more opportunities to grow their businesses and support the business community.
The Chamber continues to actively assist its members by providing aid through programs that could help increase their profits and overall exposure in the city. The Chamber implemented extensive and effective use of its digital media platforms to add value to its members and create a wider audience with a broader outreach. The Chamber planned, organized, and executed its networking events, legislative events, and contracted city events.
Business Community Development Proposal
The priority for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024-2025 is growth and sustainability. Membership dropped to just below 250 (post-pandemic) and is now at 297. Our goal is to reach 350 members. The Chamber has decided to invest heavily in the growth and retention of membership and has taken the following steps to achieve this.
Patrick Cooper has joined our team serving in a Membership Services role to get members to join our Chamber. He has been successful so far. He also shows up to events to help us set them up, run check- in, and cleanup, which has been so helpful. Natasha Patrick is leaving us for her dream job. Her current position needs to be filled in the near future.
The Chamber will continue to actively support new business and anniversary ribbon cuttings as opportunities arise. Chamber members have expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for the events and services the Chamber provides to the local business community. The Chamber prides itself on being a tool and a source of information for its members and will continue to provide this value and support.
The Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce is seeking continued support and partnership with the City of Lake Forest to aid with the initiatives for growth and increased outreach for the upcoming fiscal year.
Events listed below are considered “staples” in the City/Chamber agreement and the Chamber requests to keep these scheduled events and programs for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Table 1 below outlines the event, approximate cost, and the previously awarded city funds breakdown for each event:
Business Community Development Proposal
Table 1: Events Listed in Current Chamber Agreement:
Event/Service FY 2023-24 Approximate Cost Per Event
(Actuals)
City Funding
Breakdown
Promotion of Online Training &
Seminars
$1,500 $500
Facebook Live Interviews $1,260 $500
State of the City/Meet the Mayor TBD $8,500
Business Seminar & Expo TBD $4,500
Quad Chamber Mixer $2,190 $2,100
New Business Reception $1,820 $1,700
Social Media Workshop TBD $1,700
Legislative Luncheon $3,030 $3,800
Job Fair $1,740 $3,700
Annual Elf Yourself 5K Charity Run Use of Sports Park and City-owned Barricades, City/Chamber promotion
Chamber Board Meetings Use of Hickory Conference Room 3rd Thursday each month
Total: $11,530 $27,000
Most events listed in the City/Chamber Agreement are free of charge for members of the public to attend. The exceptions are the State of the City/Meet the Mayor, Taste of Lake Forest, and Elf Yourself 5K. These events are the most expensive and time-consuming program we offer the community and charging for entrance allows us to recover costs associated with this event not covered by sponsors.
Last year the City and Chamber also entered into separate pilot agreements for Beer & Wine Gardens at Concerts in the Park, Co-sponsorship of the Business Appreciation Luncheon, and Taste of Lake Forest.
Table 2 below outlines the event, approximate cost, and the previously awarded city funds breakdown for each event:
Table 2: Pilot Agreements
Event/Service FY 2023-24 Approximate Cost Per Event
(Actuals)
City Funding
Breakdown
Beer & Wine Gardens TBD (1 concert remaining) $6,000
Business Appreciation Luncheon $14,370 $15,000
Taste of Lake Forest TBD $11,075
The Chamber also requests continued partnership and support with the City of Lake Forest to increase value and community outreach by achieving the following:
➢ Expand and enhance business networking programs
➢ Expand and enhance business education and leadership programs ➢ Marketing and growth of the "Discover Lake Forest" program through the continued development and enhancement of seasonal networking events and business networking educational forums
➢ Continue partnership with the City to promote and organize several large businesses, governmental, and community-based events
➢ Develop and manage Member to Member discount programs ➢ Continue Chamber Board development and Committee Chairs and the Ambassador program Business Community Development Proposal
The Chamber is requesting additional City partnership with enhancements to current events that offer value, outreach, and increased community and government engagement for the Chamber, the City, Chamber members, and the business community. The Chamber is proposing to add the following events to the standard agreement. Table 2 lists events not currently listed in the City/Chamber agreement but would add immense value to the business community.
Table 2: New Events Request:
Event/Service Funding Request
Business Appreciation Luncheon $15,000
Host Beer Gardens at City events such as
concerts in the park (3 events per year)
and Tree Lighting Ceremony
20”30” Canopy rental, use of City-owned barricades, and use of City staff to setup area as part of setup a day prior. Bar rental, and available tables for the annual Tree lighting ceremony.
Women in Business Event Use of the Community Center, Atrium, and Kitchen Beer Garden at Elf Yourself 5K Approve a beer garden at the Elf Yourself 5K, and provide more collaboration in marketing to local Lake Forest residents & Banners/Signs around the City like how other cities
promote their community events
Additionally, the Chamber respectfully requests the city to continue providing room rentals for the events listed above free of charge. By utilizing the Civic Center and its conference rooms, we aspire to show off the beautiful facility and always encourage our event attendees to rent the space out for their business/personal needs.
The Chamber requests City partnership and funding on these added events to address the cost needed for staffing, office space, marketing, facility, food, entertainment, and outreach to achieve the growth initiative plan put into place.
Table 3: Proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 City/Chamber Agreement:
Event/Service Proposed Location Funding Request
State of the City/Meet the Mayor Civic Center Campus $8,500 Business Seminar & Expo Community Center $4,500
Party of 5 Multi-Chamber Mixer Community Center $2,100
New Business Reception Community Center $1,700
Social Media Workshop Community Center $1,700
Legislative Luncheon Community Center $3,800
Coffee Chats with the Chamber N/A $1,000
Career Fair Community Center $3,700
Business Appreciation Luncheon Community Center $15,000 Women In Business Community Center Use of Rooms
Annual Elf Yourself 5K Lake Forest Sports Park Use of Sports Park, City-owned Barricades, beer garden, and Ad
in Leaflet
Chamber Board Meetings Hickory Conference
Room
Use of Hickory Conference
Room Quarterly
Beer Gardens at Concerts in the Park Lake Forest Sports Park Canopy rental, City staff to setup City-owned Barricades
Beer & Wine Sales at Tree Lighting Event Community Center Bar Rental Total: $42,000
The Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce thanks you for your years of continued support and partnership Business Community Development Proposal
and looks forward to many more years of a successful and valuable partnership for the local business community.
Thanks & Regards,
Mary Visconte
CEO Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce