Published October 2001

Snohomish’s goals focus
on community, tax base

By Kimberly Hilden
Herald Business Journal Assistant Editor

The Snohomish Chamber of Commerce focuses its energy and resources on quality-of-life issues — not just business issues — chamber President John Hager said.

“The chamber exists only to improve the quality of life in this community," said Hager, owner of Collector’s Choice Restaurant in downtown Snohomish.

Which is why the 220-member chamber got involved in fund-raising activities for the new skate park, which broke ground last month, helping to raise more than $40,000 for the $215,000 project, Hager said.

And that’s why the chamber has been working with the city on a new, $355,000 Visitor Information Center, which is scheduled to break ground in late spring, Hager said.

The chamber initiated the concept for the center, Hager said. Once the City Council approved the concept, it appointed a task force. The chamber served with city staff as the lead organization on the task force.

The center, to be owned by the city and operated by the Tourism Bureau, will be located at First Street and Avenue D and will house the Historic Interpretive Center, Hager said, making it a “true community facility.”

Once it’s up and running late next year, the center also should be an economic benefit for the city known for its downtown historic district and abundance of antique and specialty stores. But Hager and the chamber’s Economic Development committee chair Frank Strahm agree that to create a stronger tax base, Snohomish needs a more diverse economy.

To that end, the chamber is hoping to work with the city to extend sewer and broadband infrastructure out to Snohomish’s northern urban growth area, Strahm said.

As for downtown, the past few years have seen more service businesses moving into non-retail space, Hager said — a promising development for the city.

“We’re on the road to making things happen,” Strahm said.

And that “we” includes an active city government, Hager said.

“We have to have a partnership with our city in order to accomplish really significant improvements,” he said.

For more information on the chamber, call 360-568-2526 or visit the chamber’s Web site, www.cityofsnohomish.com.

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