It's a new organization, still in its formative stage, one sorting out myriad organizational details and establishing goals. But the nascent Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce is starting to take shape.
Capitol Hill has been without a chamber of commerce since its previous incarnation ceased operations nearly two years ago. Efforts that led to creating the new organization arose during a series of stakeholder meetings earlier this year. Those meetings led to the creation of an Action Agenda plan for Broadway and Capitol Hill, a plan the mayor approved in an announcement at Bailey-Coy Books in July.
The goal was to improve the Hill's economic vitality; the city subsequently announced more than $300,000 be earmarked for improving Broadway's economic health. One of the items contained in the plan and directly referenced by the city was re-establishing the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce.
Aided in part by the city funding, the new chamber is in the process of finding suitable office space, creating a board and building a website, among other tasks. An interim director, Amani Loutfy, has been hired to help generate members and make the organization operational.
By way of announcing its arrival, the new chamber has partnered with the city for the Jump Start cleanup event on Broadway on Oct. 14. A continuation of on-going graffiti removable efforts, sign replacement and crosswalk stripping, Jump Start includes additional street cleaning, tree well repair and planting and a general litter cleanup. (See details below.)
"This is meant to bring more awareness to the larger business community that the chamber exists," said Lisa Stewart, who's worked with the Action Agenda group from the city's Office of Economic Development. "We want to have a tangible improvement. It may seem like a small thing, but it's part of the process and will help send the message that a lot of good things are going on on the street."
The previous Capitol Hill chamber shut down in November of 2004. At that time, former president Charles Hamilton said that the consensus was that there was a lack of interest among the members in keeping it going. After former executive director Joan Lawson retired a few years earlier the group had no professional staff. As an all-volunteer organization, the work load became too much for an ever-decreasing number of heavily involved board members. As president, Hamilton found the demands on his time were beginning to impact his own computer consulting business.
"We shut it down because there were about three people doing all the work and we just didn't have the time," he said. "We couldn't afford paid staff. I will be interested to see what the new chamber plans to do for business owners. If they come up with something terrific, that would be wonderful. There could be a need for a new business organization. But as of 2004, there was not enough interest to maintain a Capitol Hill chamber."
Hamilton thinks the success of the venture will ultimately depend on the level of interest from Hill businesses. As well, he thinks it will have work at representing more than just the Broadway business district.
"They need to address the issue of larger Hill inclusiveness. More power to them. There is some positive change on the Hill. In a lot of ways, the Hill is looking better now than it did two years ago," he said.
Robert Sondheim, who preceded Hamilton as president of the old chamber, is taking a wait-and-see attitude but is fairly optimistic that the new venture will prove successful.
"I am very supportive of the idea of a new chamber. It's definitely needed," he said. "I am hoping they will be a strong political force and help get Capitol Hill's business voices heard. The Hill sometimes seems ignored by the city."
Paul Dwoskin, who is president of the Broadway Business Improvement Association and as well is working on creating the new chamber of commerce, is confident it can be successful. With so much new development on the Hill, and Broadway's Sound Transit construction looming, there is a pressing need for a strong business advocacy group.
"It's early, yes, we're really just getting started. I agree it is important that the focus be on more than Broadway and Pike-Pine. We need the chamber to encompass all the business districts on Capitol Hill," he said.
Efforts at establishing the chamber are being undertaken in concert with other tasks aimed at improving Broadway's and Capitol Hill's economic health. A marketing study is underway to analyze Broadway's retail mix. The goal of creating the Capitol Hill Improvement District (CHID), whereby property owners would tax themselves to raise money for street cleaning and safety projects, among others, while stalled, has not been abandoned. The CHID project started roughly two years ago and evolved into the Action Agenda work earlier this year.
"The chamber is good for the neighborhood, and good for businesses to be able to speak with one voice," he said.
Chip Ragen realizes that some may be cynical about the chamber's odds of success. He's been working on the CHID for several years, worked on the Action Agenda plan and is now working on creating the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. His volunteer plate is very full.
"I understand that some might wonder why a new chamber is needed when the former one shut down," he said. "But I think the climate on Capitol Hill has changed. There is a very determined group of people on board, many of whom are getting involved for the first time. This can be a sustainable organization."
He said the new Hill chamber intends to market Capitol Hill aggressively and reach out to businesses who may not have felt a chamber of commerce had any particular benefit for them.
"The Hill has a great deal to offer, and speaking with one voice helps all businesses," he said.
The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce Jump Start event takes place on Oct. 14, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Brix project (the old Safeway site) on Broadway and East Republican Street.
For more information, or to volunteer, call 328-5023 or e-mail capitolhillchamber@gmail.com.
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
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