Story by Rafa Estolano-Sridharan
Staff Writer
Photos by Madeline Madrigal
Staff Photographer
The South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce presented their annual report to the South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The Chamber’s CEO, Laurie Wheeler, as well as a group of board members, discussed the Chamber’s activities during the past 12 months.
South Pasadena is home to 1,500 licensed businesses, with the Chamber of Commerce estimating around half of those businesses to be eligible for membership. Currently, the Chamber has 301 members, 26 of whom joined in the past year. The Chamber also plays an active role in the community by organizing events like the beloved farmers market, the Arts Crawl, and the Eclectic Music Festival.
The Chamber has made efforts to help new or growing businesses, such as holding job fairs for the South Pasadena community. In addition to helping guide individuals through city processes, the Chamber also runs educational events for businesses. This past year, the Chamber launched a webinar series called “Lunch and Learn” where a subject matter expert comes to teach on a specific skill or concept; the latest webinar was on making websites compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Chamber also hosts “ShopTalk Breakfast,” an event occuring on the first Tuesday of every month for business owners to meet and receive presentations.
Mayor Evelyn Zneimer asked Wheeler about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on South Pasadena’s economic landscape and voiced concern about empty storefronts. Wheeler replied that businesses in South Pasadena did not have as many closures as other cities because of strong community support. However, small businesses are still struggling due to competition with retail giants like Amazon. She also said that the Chamber does its best to help struggling businesses, but did not expand on the topic.
The City Council meeting was adjourned in honor of the late Ellen Daigle after a tribute from Councilmember Janet Braun.
