Editor, Ceres Courier,

The Ceres Chamber Board wanted to let you know that the new Ceres Chamber website is up and running. You can find it atwww.cereschamber.com

The website is just one of the many projects we've been busy working on this year. We are preparing to meet at our board retreat in November in preparation for many new and exciting programs we intend to offer businesses, citizens and visitors starting January 2014.

We wanted to let you know so you can advise your readers, that we are currently accepting nominations for the Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Business of the Year, Distinguished Service Awards, and NEW this year -- Young Citizen of the Year.

We are also preparing for our Holiday Service Club Mixer in December, in which we honor our local service clubs for all they do in our community.

Throughout our new website, you will see the direction the Chamber is heading in -- to become a stronger advocate for local businesses and a driving force in economic development efforts. Yes we will continue to offer ribbon cuttings and mixers, but we are going to show businesses how we intend to help after the ribbon's been cut and the grand opening celebration is over.
We recognize the need to show local businesses the value of being a Chamber member. We know that as we fulfill our purpose of helping to grow a strong local economy, that businesses will want to join the Ceres Chamber of Commerce.

To fulfill our purpose, we are working to strengthen our relationships with the city of Ceres, the Stanislaus County Alliance, and the Stanislaus County Roundtable on Tourism to attract new businesses that will stimulate our economy and promote job growth.

Just as important, we will be strengthening our outreach to our existing local businesses, to identify their needs and find ways to help them sustain and grow healthy businesses in Ceres.

We are looking for ways to partner businesses together that can help mentor, market and motivate each other. We are actively engaging as stakeholders to help with the Downtown BID, the Hatch Road corridor issues, and the City's Strategic Plan.

We have just hired a new Office Manager, Dovie Wilson, a long-time Ceres resident, whose skills, knowledge and passion for Ceres will help us achieve our goals.

We hope you find the website to be user-friendly and informational. If you would like any additional information, please don't hesitate to call on either Dustin Pack or myself to discuss the Chamber's new direction.

We are very excited about the momentum we are gaining and hope the community will be just as excited.

Renee Ledbetter,
Chamber Vice President