Pacifica Chamber of Commerce promotes this city

Pacifica Tribune/My Turn, 6/26/14.  "Insight into what Pacifica Chamber does to support our city economy" by Chris Porter

New store front businesses gets our ribbon cutting

"There have been many letters and posts to blogs regarding the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce and why they should even be considered for a $10,000 stipend from the city of Pacifica. The city of Pacifica was funding the Visitors Center, which is open weekends from May through November. Just the payroll for this time frame far exceeds $10,000. 

Within the past 12 months, the chamber has developed Pacifica's visitor website, VisitPacifica.com; launched the mobile app, iPacifica; centralized the community calendar on the website and the iPacifica app; hired a public relations firm to market local hotels and Pacifica; hosted two groups of travel writers on three-day stays within the city, which resulted in coverage in or on VIA magazine (AAA), Travel and Leisure, Senior Living and Diablo Magazine, SF Examiner and Contra Costa Times newspapers, eGloral Travel media, ontravel.com, Postcardsforyou.com, LocalGetaways.com, and KGO810News.

Contrary to stated as facts, our membership dues are not used for PAC activities, which are monies voluntarily contributed and earmarked by the business contributing such to go directly to the PAC, but used for the activities listed above. We have contributed to the new Devil's Slide Shuttle, which brings visitors into Pacifica to view the newest tunnel in California and then stay in our town for lunch or at least fill up their gas tank. We have revamped the kiosk in Rockaway Beach to show the latest activities and events in Pacifica. 

We provide tourists information and
internet advertising from our Rockaway office

This past Saturday we hosted Taste of Pacifica, which showcases the restaurants in this town and gives information on how to locate them and make reservations. The event was a sell out with many people coming from out of town to sample our culinary cuisine. This "private organization," as you call it, brings people into this town who spend dollars, which helps the city and our entire community, not just our members.

We do what we can to grow business 

Do you want to target and reach all demographic groups for your business to be successful? The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce provides these 21st-century products and services to help our chamber member businesses succeed. If you feel there is worth to being in the directory, being on our website, being on the iPacifica app, and joining us in community events like the Taste of Pacifica, the Annual Golf Tournament, the Oktoberfest, and the Rockaway Tree Lighting, then join us. If not, do not negate the importance we bring to this city as its marketing arm. 

In 2011, the total transient occupancy tax (TOT) was $940,000, which increased to $1.1 million in 2012 with the 2 percent increase in the TOT voted in by the citizens. In 2013 the $1.1 million increased to $1.3 million through marketing Pacifica as a tourist destination by the chamber. It was always the understanding that the $10,000 funding the Chamber received came directly from the TOT tax and not the taxpayers pocket. 

We are just asking the citizens of Pacifica to give credit where credit is due. No one is promoting this city except the Chamber of Commerce."

Note:  in adapting the article reprint from the original Pacifica Tribune article, a title has been added, and the one paragraph text has been changed to several paragraphs.  Approval for printing the article in full has been allowed by Chris Porter.

Reference -  Pacifica Chamber of Commerce.

Note:  photographs:   Business opening ribbon cutting (Lovey's Tea Shoppe), from Pacifica Chamber of Commerce, 11/9/12. The business office from InfoUSA, posted on a Fix Pacifica article (Chamber annual award annual dinner, 2/12/12).  Superman helping from CNN, slide 2 of 8, in an article by Kevin Pilley, 6/6/13, "The town where Superman lives".  "Sometimes saving the world involves mundane tasks. Metropolis's resident Superman helps out with a little gardening."

Posted by Kathy Meeh