I was stunned at a recent borough assembly meeting when a self-described “fiscal conservative” characterized public funding of the nonprofit Haines Chamber of Commerce as unnecessary.
For most of its history, the Chamber received support from our municipality, and for many of the same reasons that funding other nonprofits makes sense: The chamber does necessary jobs for cheap.
First, the Chamber supports local businesses, which is vital work. Haines distinguishes itself from neighboring towns like Skagway, Gustavus, Hoonah and Tenakee for its vibrant retail sector.
We have locally owned businesses competing with each other to sell us groceries, building supplies, housewares, furniture and art. That’s exceptional for a town our size anywhere in the world, but it’s not guaranteed.
As conscientious citizens wanting to live in a real town instead of a weekend resort, we sustain that by shopping locally and the Chamber sustains it by helping those businesses and reminding us to shop at home with various promotions.
The Chamber also leads important town activities like the annual Community Cleanup, Fourth of July observances, various weekend promotions and holiday Shop-at-Home campaign. In doing so, it saves gobs money for our government, which otherwise would be tasked with those functions.
Besides serving as a welcome wagon to new residents, the Chamber provides seminars and advice to area businesses. For example, on March 26, board member Craig Franke made a presentation for local retailers, with real-life examples for resolving issues such as Internet competition, customer service and employee relations.
As a former Haines business owner myself, much of Franke’s presentation hit home for me. Franke is a friendly, smart and savvy guy who deserves credit for reviving the Chamber. He also accomplished a Herculean feat by rescuing our town’s private landfill, succeeding where others had failed by working hard, reaching out to the community, and trying new approaches.
Franke is one of the smartest businessmen in town, something that’s overlooked because he usually has his head down, working.
Chef and restaurant owner Travis Kukull is the new president of the Chamber’s board of directors. Kukull has taken on the former Fireweed Restaurant, rebranding it Deer Hart and bringing his own, driving work ethic to the landmark eatery.
The Chamber office is anchored by executive director Amanda Brandon and assistant Teresa Minor, working moms who bring palpable energy and enthusiasm to their jobs and to our town.
Stop by and visit them at the Chamber office in the Gateway Building on Main Street. (The office next to the DMV.) Also, if you operate any kind of business in Haines, please consider joining the Chamber.
It’s a lynchpin organization, tying together many different efforts and organizations in our town and making Haines functional in important ways. We all benefit from it.