The focus of the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of commerce is making Prineville and Crook County a better place to live by helping build successful businesses that provide jobs, support families and give back to our community. We believe having the kind of community in which people want to raise their families, get involved in local and civic activities, starts with providing the quality of life that comes from a thriving business community. One of the questions my staff and I are often asked, is “What does the Chamber do?”. We always have an answer that seems to relate to the specific person or business asking. But in short, the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of commerce is essential to the economic growth and strength of our local community. We are networkers, facilitators, advocates, event planners, information gatherers and distributors.
Here at the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce we find promoting our members and our economy our chief responsibility. Whether we are asked to help travelers find a hotel rooms, get the number of a local plumber, or provide information on who locally can help build a website, our answer almost always directs them to one of our members, and one of our local businesses. We often refer to ourselves as the “Google” of Prineville, as we get calls for just about everything (including one caller asking for the mailing address for the family of President Bush). There is nothing that pleases me more than to direct a patron to one of our local establishments and later get feedback from not only the customer, but also the business on how positive the interaction was. It is our way of not only promoting a sale, but also promoting the concept of community and customer service.
The Chamber is active in Prineville and Crook County in the involvement we have in the many workgroups, coalitions and civic organizations. We get behind the topics that our members have an interest in and feel passionately about. We are involved with workforce and local economic development groups to encourage outside businesses and job candidates to strongly consider Prineville and Crook County as a place to consider for relocation. We are the voice of the local business community and take requests, concerns and accomplishments to local elected officials. Our reach goes beyond just our members.
It is important that the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce does all it can to meet our members and the community’s needs. We do so by listening and advocating. Our goal is to put our energy into strengthening Prineville and Crook County, and make it into a place where people want to live, work and play.
I never cease to be amazed by the strength, innovation and character of our members, who consistently impress me with their desire to see this community flourish. They understand that they can learn from each other and work not only with the Chamber staff, but also with each other to help both themselves and this community grow. That shows the power of membership in the Chamber.
