Driving Local Policy

  2020 Priority Focus:

• Workforce Housing
• SMART and the San Rafael Transit Hub
• 2020 Election
• Business Retention and Attraction (job creation)
• Following local Measures that impact business's ability to maintain costs and grow
• Engage in State politics as it pertains to regional issues that impact San Rafael & Marin (such as housing, traffic, water and education)

For more information on these issues, please contact Chamber President & CEO Joanne Webster at 415-454-4163 or jwebster@srchamber.com.

2020 Issues We Are Watching:

City of San Rafael's Inclusionary Housing Policy Proposals, Bettini Transit Center Relocation, General Plan update including the Downtown Precise Plan, Current Development Projects

North Bay Chambers Policy Platform- Chambers from the North Bay meet every spring to discuss concerns about state-wide public policy issues and draft a regional list of policy priorities. We then bring our collaborative issues to the attention of our elected officials at the State.

Key Local Wins to Date: Celebrating our Successes

• • AC Marriott Hotel at 1201 5th Street- Hotel- Approved- Chamber Supported
  • Northgate Walk At the Four Points Sheraton (Terra Linda)- Housing- Approved- Chamber Supported
  • 900 Mission Avenue- Assisted Living- Approved- Chamber Supported
  • BioMarin/WhistleStop at 999 3rd Street.- Housing and R&D- Approved- Chamber supports
  • 703 3rd St.- Housing – Approved on October 7th- Chamber Supported
  • Los Gamos Housing Proposal- hearing occurred on January 14th- Chamber provided letter that supported zoning change
  • Hilton/Hampton Dual Suite Inn proposed at 1075 Francisco Blvd – Approved
• Housing Proposal located at 104 Shaver Street- Appeal Denied- Chamber Supported

Economic Vitality Program

The San Rafael Chamber Economic Vitality Committee exists to implement a core element of the Chamber's mission: providing a strong voice in support of the economic vitality of our community. That is; securing the economic future of San Rafael.

In 2023, the Economic Vitality Committee will be focusing its efforts on several key issues that are affecting our members and business in San Rafael & the county of Marin. We will collaborate with local employers across different industry sectors  and develop positions and recommendations, and determine how the Chamber will be effective in shaping solutions that will be beneficial to our members and the community at large.

2024 Priority Focus:

• Decrease barriers to growth
• Increase number of employment opportunities
• Reduce vacancy rate of commercial real estate
• Increase synergy and collaboration between the SRCC and the Downtown Business Improvement District
• Strengthen partnerships with organizations aligned with the Chamber's priorities including the Marin SBDC, CareerPoint Marin and the Marin Economic Forum.

Please contact Karen Strolia, President & CEO, if you have questions or are interested in supporting this program: KStrolia@srchamber.com