As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the many things we are grateful for in our community. Among them, I’d like to highlight the invaluable work of our local chambers of commerce—organizations that play a pivotal role in supporting our businesses, fostering economic growth, and addressing community challenges.

Sometimes people don’t realize that our local chambers are independent organizations, not government agencies or political groups. They are funded by their members: local businesses that see the value of collaboration, networking, and shared success. This is why chambers are so effective at creating opportunities for economic growth and tackling community challenges. There are many different Chambers serving our community including the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, the Boise Metro Chamber, the Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. These are all vital partners in shaping a vibrant and prosperous local economy.

Our chambers also remind us of the importance of supporting local businesses. Earlier this month, I issued a proclamation for Veterans and Spouse Small Business Week celebrating our Veteran-owned businesses. While you may not have been aware of that effort, luckily, there are countless upcoming options for showing your support. Saturday, November 30th, is Small Business Saturday—a chance to shop locally and directly support the businesses that make Meridian unique. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the heart of our neighborhoods. That’s why I also want to highlight Senator Jim Risch’s Support Local Gems All Season Long initiative, which encourages Idahoans to shop local throughout the holiday season, not just one day. This campaign reminds us that even small acts, like buying a gift card, leaving a positive review, or sharing your favorite “local gem” on social media with the hashtag #SupportLocalGems can make a big difference for these businesses. The campaign starts today, Monday, November 25th, and runs through the holiday season, so let’s keep supporting our local gems beyond Small Business Saturday!

Our Chambers are also demonstrating their high impact through a range of events. In the past week alone, the Meridian Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of a new business in our community with a ribbon cutting at Scenthound. They hosted an “Elected Officials After Hours” event, providing an opportunity for residents and business leaders to meet and network with current and recently elected local officials. Additionally, their Leadership Meridian program held a session focused on government, where I had the opportunity to speak to participants about the City of Meridian.

Also last week, the Boise Metro Chamber was kind enough to include me as a guest on an episode of its “Metro Minute” series to talk about issues impacting Meridian and our businesses. Additionally, they held its latest CEO Speaker Series session featuring Garret Lofto, the CEO of Simplot, and Tommy Ahlquist, CEO of Ahlquist Development, offering members a chance to talk about transportation needs in the Treasure Valley.

This is just a snapshot of what these chambers do for our community; their efforts extend far beyond these recent events. The Meridian Chamber serves as a champion for government advocacy, regularly engaging with city, state, and federal officials to promote policies that create a favorable environment for business growth. From targeted business recruitment and retention strategies to professional development programs, the Meridian Chamber is constantly working to expand opportunities for local businesses and strengthen our community as a whole.

The Meridian Chamber of Commerce also is a driving force behind many advancements in our city. For example, they have started the very popular Oktoberfest event and are actively exploring the establishment of an auditorium district to fund a multipurpose event venue for sports tournaments, conventions, high school graduations, and more.

These efforts are made possible by the support of local businesses that choose to become chamber members. If you’ve ever wondered which local businesses are members of the Meridian, Boise, Veterans and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, I encourage you to visit their websites. They maintain directories of their members—businesses that are investing in Idaho and our community and contributing to its growth. The Meridian Chamber’s website also provides a wealth of information on their events and programs, which include scholarship opportunities for high school students, monthly after-hours networking events, and business excellence awards, just to name a few.

As we gather with our loved ones this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s recognize the hard work of the Meridian Chamber, and let’s honor their mission by supporting our local businesses. Together, we can ensure that Meridian continues to grow and prosper in the years to come, and remain the premier place to live, work, and raise a family.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!