January started with the Chamber staff working remote as the world around us was still shut down. Our focus was to be a resource for our members and community, we worked closely with the City of Lafayette to educate our businesses as to who is essential and how to apply for Covid-19 Relief funding, PPE and PPP’s. We pivoted, planned our relaunch, hoped for vaccines and awaited storefront openings.  

As businesses entered the unknown, we introduced a campaign recognizing Lafayette Chamber Members Through the Decades. Our goal was to showcase the strong businesses that were at the foundation of our Chamber efforts. The Chamber was started by a group of concerned businesspersons back in 1947. Their mission is still at the root of everything we do today. We proudly showcased the “Diamond Era,” five Lafayette businesses who have been Chamber members for over 60+ years! We are fortunate to also have many other businesses that qualify in our Gold, Silver and Bronze Membership Eras, too. 

Spring progressed and vaccinations rolled out, we moved to helping relaunch Lafayette safely. Our Chamber Team continued to be a resource to educate our community with the ever-changing guidelines and mandates as well as business resources through our Tuesday Talk series, Chamber Connectors networking group as well as "Coffee" with our Community Partners presentations. School returned in part for some and varying degrees for others. We continued to encourage participation in everything. Lafayette residents and businesses came together to line the downtown streets for a car rally, cheering on our 2021 Acalanes High School graduates. One for all and all for one, strength through community.  

The Lafayette Chamber proudly grew our membership base to over 620 members by year end. We added 100 new members in 2021! Each new business comes with their own exciting story and mission. If you missed one of our Welcome Posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, check them out! We continue to highlight members and thank our renewing members through social media too. [Learn how to connect with us via social media here.]

AND we added a Premier Member! Pacific Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital joined Cobain Orthodontics, Diablo Foods, Douglah Designs/Luxe Home, Mechanics Bank, Oakwood Athletic Club and Park Smart. Your success is key to our success as we are all in this together. 

Our world reopened in May and June. We jumped at the opportunity to SEE each other in person. The Chamber held ribbon cuttings for Diablo Auto Works, Headlands Brewing Company and Fringe + Fern Collective. We co-hosted a Refresh and Reconnect Social Mixer with Lafayette Social at Pillar Cowork. [Watch video and get links to photos here.]

🎥 Taste of Lafayette KTVU interview.

The Taste of Lafayette Restaurant Tour returned and sold out immediately. Our restaurants were so excited to welcome back the community and showcase their tasty and savory treats as our ticketed guests strolled Mt. Diablo Blvd. The Chamber was able to present the Lafayette Community Foundation with a beneficiary check as a result of your participation. 

The summer continued into fall with ribbon cuttings for First Mile Cycle Works, Your CBD Store, Unbound Training Co., Robineve & Co Interiors, Sunwise Clinical Research, Hollie’s Homegrown and 2 Girls One Plant. Plus, the Chamber Board of Directors hosted our first annual Citywide Sidewalk Sale. We are thankful to Peet's Coffee and Local Kitchens for helping us kickoff this fun event in the plaza.   

The fall brought the return to school for ALL of our community. We, unfortunately, were unable to hold our annual Lafayette Art and Wine Festival in September but we are looking forward to 2022’s downtown Block Party.  [Save the dates: Sept. 17 & 18, 2022.]

The Lafayette Res Run for Education returned in October. Once again, our businesses and residences came together with a common goal to raise money for our local schools. Not even an atmospheric river and torrential storm could tame the excitement. We set new records with 2328 registered participants and proudly were able to give back $42,568.75 direct to our school's organizations. Congratulations to all! Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such a successful event. [View photos/videos/results/kudos here!]

On October 25, the Lafayette Young Professionals held Octoberfest at Headlands Brewing Company. Know a young professional? Send them our way! Our YoPros group will be hosting events online and in person in 2022!

The Chamber kicked off the holiday season by turning on the Twinkle Lights, making the holidays bright in downtown Lafayette! Lafayette's environmentally-friendly lights were lit along Mt. Diablo Blvd. on November 16. Thank you to our co-sponsors Dana Green Team, Branagh Development and the City of Lafayette. [View photos here.]  

This is a time of year for counting our blessings and honoring our loved ones. For 35 years, Hospice East Bay Tree of Lights ceremonies have offered members of our community a way to honor the lives of their loved ones through the symbolism of light and the reading of names. Don't miss the photos of the Hospice Tree all lit up in the Roundup Saloon and White Barn Home parking lot along with our Executive Director, Jay Lifson’s presentation.  

🎥 Community Thanksgiving Sunrise Stroll

We celebrated November with our annual Thanksgiving community gathering but with a slightly different spin. We invited everyone to join us in a Sunrise Stroll around the Lafayette Reservoir. Most thankful for the dozens of community members who joined us! Coffee and breakfast treats were generously sponsored by Local Kitchens. Pastor Dan Senter of Our Saviors Lutheran Church led off the morning with a compelling speech about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Engaging warm-up stretch by Jennifer Mecham, owner of Unbound Training Company! [Read the Lamorinda Weekly article here. View video here. View photos here.] 

The Lafayette Chamber shared our Non-Profit and Art Community Newsletter reminding everyone of the efforts and needs of our 80+ non-profit chamber member organizations.

We hosted 2 spectacular nights of the Best of Art and Wine in November at the Creekside Commons. We were most appreciative of the tremendous community effort to help the Lafayette Chamber, our services, programs, and beneficiary efforts. This gave special meaning to It Takes a Village. We were humbled by the outpouring of support. From the guests who joined us in person or offered their services to those who generously volunteered or sent donations – all helped us continue to meet our goals. [Read recap and view photos here.]

🎥 It's a Wonderful Life in Lafayette

December is for spreading holiday magic. We invited the community to join our “It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration” in Lafayette's Plaza Park on December 5. We filled the plaza with smiles, cheer and music. Santa came to Lafayette on the Lafayette Historical Society's firetruck, Old Betsy. Mrs. Claus was sighted riding the train. There were plenty of special photo ops, live musical entertainment, kid’s crafts, holiday treats and more! Thank you to our co-sponsors Dana Green Team and Branagh Development for a wonderful afternoon! [Read the recap and view photos and videos here.] 

🎥 Lafayette Chamber Holiday Mixer honoring the history of the Lafayette Improvement Association (LIA) and the Town Hall Theatre

Wrapping up the year, we hosted our annual year-end Holiday Mixer and a ribbon cutting at Town Hall Theatre honoring the Lafayette Improvement Association. [Watch this special presentation here.]

And just this week we announced our 2022 Business Person of the Year. Congratulations John McCormick, co-owner of Lamorinda Music with wife Colleen McCormick, and 2020/2021 Lafayette Chamber Board President on being named Lafayette's 2022 Business Person of the Year! John's contributions to our community and the Chamber this past year have easily warranted this award. Congratulations John and THANK YOU for your ongoing commitment to Lafayette!

As we close out 2021, we are most thankful for our members, sponsors, non-profit organizations, school liaisons and community leaders. We are looking forward to 2022, celebrating our 75th year of advocating for our businesses and serving our local community, and hosting our 25th annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival in our beautiful downtown.

Thank you again for your support. May many more dreams come true in Lafayette!

The Lafayette Chamber staff would like to express our sincere gratitude to our dedicated volunteer board of directors. Learn more about our Chamber Leadership here.

📷 Happy Holidays from the Lafayette Chamber Board of Directors Executive Committee and the Chamber Staff! Photo at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa.