On March 2  the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce held the “2022 State of Business in Vallejo,” a live, movie premier-style event at the Empress Theatre. Created in collaboration with Visit Vallejo and the City of Vallejo, the State of Business is the Chamber’s attempt to tell the story of economic development – how it works, what it is, why it fails, and what may come if it’s successful.

 

The video presentation starts with a national view of economic development, discussing terms such as GDP, interest rate and unemployment, and funnel down to the City of Vallejo. Chris Rico, Executive Director of the Solano EDC, discusses Solano County’s approach and what Vallejo should focus on. Economist Dr. Robert Eyler from Sonoma State University covers the numbers and what they mean. We then hear from the City of Vallejo as they talk about the many projects in place and those to come, along with the challenges facing local development. Interspersed between the presentations are different looks at Vallejo. We hear from local businesses, who comment on Vallejo conditions and what they believe is needed to move the city forward. We also see what makes Vallejo special – the environment, the people, and the unique places that we all love.

 

Following the video, Chamber President James Cooper facilitates a Q&A session with the video presenters. Questions from Chamber members and those in attendance provide additional insights into both what is happening right now and what the speakers see as the best ways to attract businesses and industries to Vallejo. This was a sponsored event, with support from A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Suite Treatments, the Empress Theatre, and the  Chamber’s Cornerstone membership group.

The Vallejo Chamber of Commerce is making the full video (including Q&A) available for public viewing on YouTube. It can be viewed by going to the Chamber’s website (VallejoChamber.com) and pulling down the home page until you see the video link on the right. You can also watch it on the Chamber’s YouTube channel, or by going to: youtu.be/V55-JS75dU4.