Cortez leads effort for new Wasco chamber

The Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is on its way, with Tilo Cortez, co-owner of California Home Pros, leading the effort. Inspired by his previous experience on the City Council and recognizing a void in the community that a local chamber could fill, Cortez said last week, "I felt that I am the right person to get it started because I am familiar with the needs of the business community as well as the city's regulatory requirements. I believe I can be a good liaison between those sectors."

Cortez emphasized that the chamber's primary focus is to highlight local businesses and attract new customers to those businesses. The second goal is to assist existing businesses with challenges like homelessness, graffiti, broken windows, police responses and support with city applications or interactions. The chamber also will offer networking events, educational workshops and other resources.

He has ideas to support business owners: "We would implement a small membership fee, whether it's $10 or $20. The goal is to create a fund that could help business owners in need. For example, if a window is broken and an owner can't afford the repair, they could borrow the money to replace the window quickly. This would prevent an extended period of using a wooden board, which could be an eyesore. They would then repay the fund when they are able to do so."

The next step is to establish an exploratory committee, which he and his wife, Jenny, who is joining him in leading the chamber's launch, will set up. "We want to ensure everything is in place to launch the Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Our priorities are securing our nonprofit status and establishing our board of directors, both of which we want to start on right away."

In forming the exploratory committee, he stressed, "We are looking for like-minded individuals who will put the needs of the community and the businesses before themselves to help us map out and select the best board of directors."

The last active chamber in Wasco was in 2018. "It ceased to operate because of a lack of participation. And now, with all the investment in downtown and the beautification project, it's a great time to start the chamber because of the reinvigoration of businesses willing to participate."

Such an oerganization is needed in Wasco "Because most new businesses that want to come to a city will typically contact the chamber to assess the business climate. New businesses mean more employment opportunities for residents and a higher tax base for the city, which helps provide public services to its residents."

He said all sectors and industries will be engaged, "But we definitely want to include the agriculture sector because many times they are forgotten, yet in our community, they are an integral part of our success."

Officially launching the new chamber will depend on how long it takes to get the nonprofit status approved by the state, Cortez explained.