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Overcoming, Surviving, and Thriving into 2008 and Beyond
With road closures, forest closures and even a lake closure during the recent fires, Big Bear is affected in devastating ways even though the fire didn’t burn any of our homes or businesses. We see it in the lack of cars on the roads, shoppers in the stores, or even walkers on the Bike Path. Closures are bad for business and the Chamber of Commerce understands that such crises put a crunch on everyone’s wallets, especially when gas prices, groceries, and utility bills are high.
In response to this difficult situation the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce has done the following things to respond.
1) Work with our district representatives at the State and County levels to lobby for additional funds to help keep Highway 18 and 330 open.
2) Work with the U.S. Small Business Administration and F.E.M.A. to promote and advertise the loans available for fire victims, including the Economic Injury Loan. (Information on such loans is in this Newsletter.)
3) Work with the other mountain chambers and the Big Bear Lake Resort Association to hold a joint press conference with Governor Schwarzenegger to publicize that Big Bear and the other mountain communities are open for business and recreation. This conference was held on November 7th, 2007 at the Lake Arrowhead Village.
4) Continue to lead the Regional Traffic Advisory Committee (RTAC) that works with CalTrans, U.S. Forest Service, Big Bear Mountain Resorts, MARTA, Big Bear Lake Resort Association, CHP, and the local Sheriff’s Department to keep the roads open, safe and well advertised. In such meetings the Chamber is able to voice our members concerns such as the “forest closed” signs on Highway 38 during the fire. Through RTAC the Chamber is able to ensure the next time (which hopefully there isn’t one) any signs on the roads read “businesses open during forest closure” or something similar.
5) Lastly, the Chamber of Commerce is working to create a “Shop Big Bear” campaign that will be launched the first of January. Such campaigns, though they don’t solve the problem, help to ease it. The Chamber encourages all local residents and second home owners to shop local wherever possible and keep the money in Big Bear, especially during these difficult times. Those that live here should also shop here. That is our opinion, because no where else can you “Shop at the Top.” (Please see page two for entry information into our “name that slogan” contest.)
The Chamber of Commerce takes the current situation very seriously because we recognize the difficulties and stresses it puts on both the health of your business and your family. We are working hard to ensure that we overcome the recent fires as quickly as possible and hope that all of our members take advantage of us by getting the information and resources they need to stay in business. Together we keep Big Bear in business, and the Chamber is doing all we can to make sure it stays that way.
Sara Russ,
Executive Director, Big Bear Chamber of Commerce |
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