The Visalia Chamber offers Programs to Support Small Businesses and Leadership

Written by: Colin Franey, Franey's Carpet One Floor & Home Design Center

 

Who can tell me what the Visalia Chamber of Commerce does besides sponsor the Young Professionals Network (YPN) and host awesome events supporting the community like the annual Christmas Tree Auction or Oktoberfest?

 

The Chamber is an active and important organization in our community, advocating on behalf of its members and the business community at large. It supports and raises awareness for important causes and helps connect citizens and businesses to each other. It also sponsors two programs that any professional should consider enrolling in.

 

The first is the Emerge Program. Targeted towards entrepreneurs, whether it be those who are just taking the first steps in turning a business idea in to a reality or those who have already taken the leap and opened their doors, the benefits are countless. I am only half-way through the program and have already gleaned new insights in to ways I can strengthen my business. It also has me asking questions that I didn't even realize I needed to be asking, and now I am!

The second program is Leadership Visalia. Meant as a professional development program it has the ancillary effect of introducing the participants to vital areas of our community, think government, education, agriculture, and healthcare. The class is challenged to complete a project meant to better the community, this year's class is establishing an annual book fair. Upon completion of the program I had new friends, a much larger network spanning a wide variety of professions, a better understanding of the issues our community faces and how we collectively choose to address them, and had become more invested and involved in my new home.

 

I am a recent transplant to Visalia and my participation in these programs has dramatically and positively shaped my short time here. However, you don't need to be new to town or trying to start a business to benefit from either of these programs. All that is required is a desire to improve yourself and your community, a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and to become a student again. While I still have so much to learn about running a small business and my home of Visalia, I am more confident, ready, and excited to do so because of Leadership Visalia and the Emerge Program.

 

For more information about Emerge and Leadership Visalia go to www.visaliachamber.org