Our Mission & History
Our Mission
To promote and support the success of the regional business community through effective advocacy, education and relationship building.
Vision
The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice and advocate for the business community. The Chamber promotes economic opportunity, business education and successful business relationships throughout the region.
Core Commitments
The Fresno Chamber serves as the catalyst that helps industry grow in our community and we continue to seek new ways to deliver valuable programming and outstanding value.
Our Chamber is proud to be a champion for new businesses as well as companies that have prospered in the Valley for decades.
We are the convener for groups around the region who believe as we do, that the community prospers when business is doing well. The Central Valley is beginning to grow as a force to be reckoned with in California and our organization is proud to lead that charge.
Our objectives as your Chamber are to:
- Promote a strong local economy
- Provide opportunities to network and build relationships
- Deliver programs to help businesses grow
- Represent and advocate on behalf of the business community
- Enhance commerce through community stewardship
History of the Chamber
1993
1993 1986
1986Measure C Campaign begins at the Chamber and ends with a huge success—the passage of the 1/2 cent sales tax for road construction.
1986
1986 1985
1985 1980
1980 1978
1978 1974
1974The Board of Supervisors designates the Fresno Chamber of Commerce as the action agency to carry out the Overall Economic Development Program for Fresno County.
1968
1968 1964
1964 1957
1957As president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, Leon S. Peters creates the world’s first Agri-Business Committee. He then initiates a campaign for Fresno to be recognized as the World Capital of Agri-Business.
1951
1951The Fresno Industrial Sites Foundation, a non-profit corporation dedicated to industrial site development, is created.
1949
1949Chamber supports the building of a children’s hospital in the county—later named Valley Children’s Hospital.
1945
1945The Chamber encourages the addition of the Agricultural department at Fresno State College.
1939
1939 1937
1937 1936
1936 1930
1930 1930
1930 1926
1926Chamber assumes responsibility of the Fresno Airport, spending $5,000 in acquisition and improvements.
1922
1922 1922
1922The Chamber raises $200,000 to bring Sugar Pine Mill to Fresno. The Mill invests $5 million in the plant and creates 1,000 new jobs.
1921
1921The Chamber Finances the Fresno Irrigation District bond election and secures a new Post Office Building.
1920
1920 1919
1919The Chamber leads organization of the Kings River Conservation project, secures the passage of a $4.8 million bond issue for county roads and develops a Civic Center plan.
1918
1918The previous Chamber building is donated to the Red Cross and the Chamber moves to the Rowell-Chandler building.
1917
1917Chamber acquires appropriation for a new highway to approach Kings Canyon, spearheads drive highway over Pacheco Pass, and endorses Pine Flat dam.
1908
1908 1906
1906On April 19, 1906, the Chamber collects and dispatches seven carloads of supplies and $50,000 cash for San Francisco earthquake victims’ relief.
1906
1906 1901
1901The Chamber and the 100,000 Club—a club the Chamber Designated to attract immigrants to the Valley—join forces.
1895
1895On February 4, 1895, the Board of Trade changes its name to the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
With a membership of more than 1,200 businesses and organizations, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest Chambers in the state of California in addition to being the largest business organization in the region. While our membership’s diverse body includes businesses of all sizes, corporations, associations and professionals, small businesses represent roughly 80 percent of our membership – leading our team to establish advocacy on their behalf as a central goal.
Since 1885, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce has been working hard to strengthen our regional economy, encourage growth and identify needs and opportunities of the business community. While helping over 1,200 member businesses guard their futures, we’ve helped turn the Fresno area into a great place to work, live and raise a family.
We proudly serve as the voice for our business community and work continuously to advocate the increasingly important message to our residents and elected officials, which is that we are vital to our community and are willing to fight to preserve, further enhance and economically develop the place that we call home and the place where we raise our families.