Published August 2001

Monroe group aims to be tool for business success

By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce is dealing with growth issues, finding itself in the middle of a rapidly expanding community where new retail, manufacturing and residential developments have changed its economic profile dramatically.

Merchants in the old downtown area are beginning to prosper again, after surviving years of business growth along both sides of Highway 2 — including hotels, fast-food restaurants, a movie theater and a Fred Meyer store — that took attention and investments away from the town's core.

Today, there are antique shops, video and gift outlets, stores catering to Monroe's Hispanic community and unique restaurants and retail businesses that can compete with the highway's rows of chain stores and franchise enterprises.

Spurred by steady growth in recent years, the chamber is gaining membership, launching new programs and working to improve the community as well as increase member benefits.

"One of our top priorities is addressing the needs of the businesses we have here now and our current members, things like education for running a business, computer uses, small-business resources and networking," Executive Director Glenda Terry said. "When I first came here from South Carolina two years ago, there were about 25 members at our meetings, now we often have 60. If the meetings aren't benefiting members, they'll skip them."

Member benefits include a business referral network linked to the chamber's Visitor Information Center, which the chamber office operates under contract with the city; insurance programs; special rates for phone services and media advertising; advertising opportunities in the chamber's newsletter; a listing in its annual business directory; providing coupons and flyers in the "new resident" information packets; and a free link to the chamber's Web site.

The Visitor Information Center, headed by Cheryle Cooper, received 47,794 requests for information during 2000, the most significant gain in several years thanks to a proactive effort to promote tourism and local businesses. An area recreation guide is being produced with neighboring Sultan, and the chamber has published an east county map, with advertisements from local businesses.

Monroe is the largest city on Highway 2 between Everett and Wenatchee, with 14,210 residents within the city limits. Only 20 miles from the Cascade mountains, Monroe sits in the flat, rural Skykomish River valley.

While the city is probably best known as host to the Evergreen State Fair each fall, it's also noted as a recreation area, a community with lavish street median flower beds and home to such manufacturing firms as Canyon Creek Cabinet Co.

Terry started out as a volunteer at the chamber office, then became executive director last September.

"Our goals for the next three years include offering quality programs for our membership and developing a working partnership with the city and the Snohomish County Economic Development Council," Terry said.

David Spengler of Georgio's Subs is the current President of the Monroe chamber, with Debbie Smith of Re/Max Northwest in the President-elect's position.

Membership meetings are held at noon on the second Tuesday of each month at The Vineyard restaurant by the old smokestack, a Monroe landmark, on Highway 2.

For more information, contact the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, 110 S. Lewis Street, Monroe, WA 98272, call 360-794-5488, send e-mail to chamber@monroe.net or visit its Web site, http://chamber.monroe.net.

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