Welcome!
Another year for the Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce is in the books! 2022 was a year full of change & growth. We commissioned a new logo, and we revisited and updated our mission & vision statements. Our focus word for the year was connections. We used it as a guide for all the things we did throughout the year. We built connections with & amongst our members. We made connections with the community at large & multiple local organizations all for the benefit of Washburn & our members. Everything we did was geared towards making our connections stronger.
We partnered with The Club on many events & activities in order to showcase its potential to residents & visitors alike. We wrote letters of support for the city & other organizations looking for grant funding. Another $60,000 was awarded to members in BounceBack grants bringing the 2-year total to over $200,000. We listened to the needs of our members & partnered with Washburn EMS to train business owners & their employees in first aid & the use of AED’s & we placed AED machines in 6 different business locations. And to think, it all started with a member asking, “What do you think about this?” We will continue to foster partnerships with members & beyond in 2023. We were also able to partner with Northern Most Media to use grant money to produce video content for a new 4-season destination marketing campaign that will be launching soon. Our first Mind Your Business offering in February, will be a collaboration with the Aging & Disability Resource Center of the North to provide Dementia Friendly Training to businesses & their employees on how to spot & support customers & visitors who may be lost or confused due to dementia. With Bayfield County becoming one of the oldest counties by age in the state this is a very relevant & important training opportunity. This year we worked tirelessly to support our members & the community. We are proud of all that was accomplished. There is so much more coming in 2023 & we want you to join us!
Whether you have been in business for many years, or are just starting out, it is important to have a support system that is there to cheer on your successes & help you when things get tough. Joining the Chamber can provide you with that support system & more. Your investment in the chamber, is an investment in Washburn & the Chequamegon Bay Area as a whole. We look forward to working with & supporting you in the new year!
Sincerely,
Melissa Martinez
Director
Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce