CLINT KOBLE, Advisor with Small Business Development out of Truckee, was featured speaker at a meeting held at Golden West Dining in Loyalton Saturday, February 20th with a tri-tip luncheon. On arrival, he compared the beauty of Plumas and Sierra Counties with a national park. But he gave his observations of shuttered communities,,damage to small, small businesses and non profits devastated with the cancellation of annual events. He told of fewer stays and less services.
He called Chambers of Commerce a “breath of life.” He called small, small businesses under appreciated and under-respected. The Mom & Pops he said have been forgotten. Chambers, he said, need to reinvent and redefine with economic development as the “heart and soul” of communities. To rebuild he said Chambers need to bring value to memberships and bring resources.
He talked of the fight to get technology and online networking and growing tourism. In losing population, he said in 1860 Sierra County had 11,387 residents compared to less than 3,000 in 2018.
East Sierra Valley Chamber Vice President Kaytee Lundee asked what the Chamber could do and mentioned “no place to rent.” Clint suggested advertising, “Live where you vacation,” making experiences unique and memorable, making it attractive and sharing resources. Mark Brown, former mayor of Truckee, told of work on the general plan which is crucial. There was talk on TOT funding and Supervisor Paul Roen told how the County has been to Washington over PILT funding.
There was talk of “no growthers,” with Roen responding there are 2,385 current privately-owned buildable lots in Sierra County; lots. He elaborated how ranchers gave up concessions to focus growth for smaller acreage. He gave an example of Sierra Hot Springs, designed and negotiated to expand in the General Plan but how “everybody in the community threw a fit” and nobody wants growth in their backyard.
He called Chambers of Commerce a “breath of life.” He called small, small businesses under appreciated and under-respected. The Mom & Pops he said have been forgotten. Chambers, he said, need to reinvent and redefine with economic development as the “heart and soul” of communities. To rebuild he said Chambers need to bring value to memberships and bring resources.
He talked of the fight to get technology and online networking and growing tourism. In losing population, he said in 1860 Sierra County had 11,387 residents compared to less than 3,000 in 2018.
East Sierra Valley Chamber Vice President Kaytee Lundee asked what the Chamber could do and mentioned “no place to rent.” Clint suggested advertising, “Live where you vacation,” making experiences unique and memorable, making it attractive and sharing resources. Mark Brown, former mayor of Truckee, told of work on the general plan which is crucial. There was talk on TOT funding and Supervisor Paul Roen told how the County has been to Washington over PILT funding.
There was talk of “no growthers,” with Roen responding there are 2,385 current privately-owned buildable lots in Sierra County; lots. He elaborated how ranchers gave up concessions to focus growth for smaller acreage. He gave an example of Sierra Hot Springs, designed and negotiated to expand in the General Plan but how “everybody in the community threw a fit” and nobody wants growth in their backyard.
