MONTE VISTA- The Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce board of directors met for their monthly meeting Thursday, May 28, via Zoom. They reviewed the financial impact of recent event cancellations on the chamber’s finances, discussed some positive news for the area and said goodbye to Jerry Apker, who retired from his work as the Chamber Manager last week.

The Chamber is currently $9,000 ahead of May 2019, but that is largely due to an earlier payment of expenses, Board Director Gary Wilkinson explained. The current balance for the Chamber is $50,989.59. Board Director Ken Hamko of the Sandhill Inn and Suites expressed concern at the lost events, including the Home and Garden Show in April, canceled because of COVID-19 concerns and the stay-at-home order. Board President Linda Burnett and Wilkinson explained they will still have some dues coming in and 2/3 of the budget is made up with the Ag Conference in February, where the Chamber sponsors the event and hosts the Trade Fair portion, retaining the booth fees. Wilkinson added the 2020 Crane Fest was more financially successful for the Chamber than 2019. Burnett agreed to talk to Marvin Reynolds at the CSU Extension Office soon about the 2021 Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference and Trade Fair, because it is very beneficial to the Chamber to host the trade fair and the members agreed the classes and forums provided by CSU are one of the biggest draws, but with plans for a new building at Ski-Hi and changing event regulations they may have to change course on their contributions to the Ag Conference’s methods.

When discussing old business, Board Director Jim Clare asked about a sponsorship the Chamber had provided the SLV Climbers Alliance to assist with the No Man’s Land Film Festival that was planned for earlier this spring but was canceled because of the Vali 3 Theater’s mandatory closure and safer-at-home regulations. Apker explained the sponsorship was being held in hopes of sponsoring the festival for 2021, but the board should keep it in mind and request more information as that window approaches.

While discussing new business, the board discussed the possibility of reopening the Chamber office/visitor center in the near future. County Commissioner Gene Glover noted the state’s safer-at-home guidelines are set to expire on June 1, so hopefully any other gathering or workplace sanitizing information/requirements will be presented on that date. Hamko inquired if the traffic in the building would either be an issue or justify a reopening. Burnett noted with the exception of the meeting space being rented, the office does not usually have 10 or more people in it that would violate social distancing practices, with the exception of when it is used for the Ski-Hi Stampede tickets, which would not be happening this year. The board agreed after June 1, if the City of Monte Vista who owns the building is also OK with it, they will look at limited reopening practices.

Adam Lock, co-owner of SLVoices was officially welcomed as a Board Director. “He and Martha [Lock, co-owner of SLVoices and Monte Vista City Councilor] have been assets to this community,” said Burnett. Lock thanked the board for accepting his membership and stated he looked forward to helping member businesses and the community, adding it was an extension of his dedication to positive progress here, “being committed to the community makes everything easier.”

The board discussed completing an audit, which was encouraged by Chamber Manager Leo Wilde, a former IRS employee, who pointed out it was a common practice approximately every five years for 501c6 organizations like the chamber. Board Directors Gus Basterrechea and Wilkinson agreed, pointing out they could contract with Wall, Smith & Bateman and only needed to provide them with access to the financials of the Chamber and they likely wouldn’t charge over $1,000. Basterrechea added it was a great time to do so now that the Chamber was quiet because of COVID-19 closures and cancellations. The motion to move forward passed unanimously.

While on the topic, Clare pointed out an attorney who specializes in nonprofits, their financial and legal obligations, liabilities and protocols will meet with the Chamber on Wednesday, June 3, at 4p.m. to discuss the Chamber’s practices and provide advice on conducting a board member training, which Clare stated was very beneficial for any nonprofit.

The board discussed the Chamber’s efforts to help local businesses recover from the COVID-19 closures and sales slumps, discussing SLVoices’s recent podcast and partnership with Jason Medina of the SLV Small Business Development Center along with a sponsorship program for individuals and businesses to sponsor Chamber membership for their struggling peers in the business community. Medina also pointed out he is looking for a woman business owner who is interested in sitting on an advisory committee for the First Southwest Bank Community Fund which will oversee $5,000, 1 percent interest loans to other women owned businesses. The committee members will also receive a stipend for their participation.

Every Tuesday morning members of the Chamber board of directors meet via Zoom to discuss recent changes in regulations, questions that have been presented to the Chamber and additional resources available to local businesses. If you’re interested in joining this meeting, contact Board Director Gary Wilkinson at [email protected].

The Tuesday meetings have brought forth a variety of ideas. Monte Vista businesses are encouraged to register (for free) on www.slvsupportlocal.com, with the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce joining their counterparts in Del Norte and Alamosa in promoting on their website and via social media and will later be providing a sponsorship to the site if needed for further maintenance or expansion. The Chamber is also exploring the possibility of a small business online auction to help locals sell their goods and services in a safe and productive way.

The Chamber has also written a letter of support to the City of Monte Vista and is looking for ways to accommodate expanded outdoor dining for restaurants. The Chamber will be polling local restaurants in the near future to determine interest and what specific needs they can assist with.

Chamber Board members have been working with Small Business Development Center Director Jason Medina to provide regular updates and application assistance for resources available to local businesses, including federal, state and local loans and grants. Recently, Medina has highlighted a grant for utility payments for local businesses and a grant through the San Luis Valley Council of Governments as well as other low-interest loan programs to get funds to businesses as quickly as possible. The Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a podcast through SLVoices which outlines a lot of these resources and gives financial recovery advice as well, which can be found at the following link: https://slvoices.com/2020/05/26/slv-small-business-development-center/

The Chamber is also scheduling a weekly Zoom meeting with Medina on Thursdays exclusively for Monte Vista businesses to discuss these resources, ask questions and seek creative ways to work cooperatively for the benefit of the local economy. To find more information on how to join these Thursday meetings, contact Chamber President Linda Burnett at [email protected].

Following in the example set by the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce, Monte Vista will allow individuals and businesses who have not been as harshly affected by the recent COVID-19 closures and regulations to sponsor other businesses that have been severely impacted by paying their $150 Chamber Membership for 2020. For more information on how to sponsor or to seek a sponsorship, contact Burnett at [email protected].

All of these efforts are in addition to the benefits regularly provided to Chamber members, including the business of the month listings, listings on their website www.montevistachamber.org, local businesses’ updates via a monthly newsletter, and other benefits. Although there is not currently have a date set for the reopening of the Chamber’s location, they are answering messages and emails to provide help to local businesses. Individuals and businesses interested in finding out more about the Chamber or with concerns or ideas about economic recovery should contact Leo Wilde at [email protected] or you can contact a Chamber Board member at one of the emails listed below.

Adam Lock, SLVoices/ San Luis Valley Voices, [email protected]

Danielle Anderson, Rio Grande Savings & Loan, [email protected]
Gary Wilkinson, Monte Vista School District, [email protected]
Gene Glover, Rio Grande County Commissioner, [email protected]

Gus Basterrechea, Colorado Workforce Center, [email protected]
Jason Medina, SLV Small Business Development Center, [email protected]
Jeff Harmon, Valley-Wide Welding, [email protected]
Jim Clare, SLV Landfill, [email protected]
Kelly DeSautell, US Tractor & Harvest, [email protected]
Ken Hamko, Sandhill Inn & Suites, [email protected]
Kyle Riggenbach, Rain Brews, [email protected]
Leonora Wilde, Chamber Manger, [email protected]
Linda Burnett, Chamber President, [email protected]
Maria Aguilar, Sunflower Bank, [email protected]
Rob Vance, City of Monte Vista, [email protected]
Ruthanne Johnson, Freelance writer and Rio Grande Club, [email protected]
Wanda Hawman, Jessie May Olson Memorial Community Garden, [email protected]

Burnett discussed the chamber’s support of the city’s efforts to make outdoor seating more accessible for local restaurants, but she and Hamko noted only Quincy’s had come forward saying they were very interested so far. Hamko encouraged the chamber to talk to local restaurants to find out how many will move forward with the plan and what resources the chamber can provide to make the process easier.

Hamko also stated he and the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce are taking the lead on restarting the valley-wide chamber and city manager meetings. Hamko stated they will be virtual, both because of social distancing requirements but also largely to avoid the traveling conflicts that hindered participation in past efforts. “We want a level of purpose to bring us all together,” Hamko stated, adding they are going to focus on two purposes, especially in the current business era, reporting on new requirements, events and other progress and brainstorming on how to continue bringing economic development and more opportunities to the Valley as a whole.

Wilkinson stated he recently spoke with Kathy Rogers-Woods of the Friends of Ski-Hi, who are moving forward with their plans to purchase a new building, with $765,000 of the $800,000 raised for the project’s next steps.

The meeting concluded with most of the attendees giving departing words of thanks to Apker, who stated he will still be around and involved with events like the Crane Festival, “so I’m not going to say I’ll miss you, unless I’m in Spain or Portugal,” he joked. Clare added “Congratulations…you’ve done a professional and amazing job for the chamber.” Hamko added his thanks and Glover stated “It’s been good having you on the board.” “We appreciate all of your efforts and we support you,” Burnett added.