Claremont History

Claremont History

Since 1908, the Claremont Chamber of Commerce has played a major role in the civic, economic, and social development of the city. Established first as the Claremont Board of Trade, it changed its name to the Claremont Chamber of Commerce in 1920. The Board of Trade was initially established to promote the citrus industry, which was the main economic driver of the city in its early days. The change to the Chamber of Commerce acknowledged the incorporation of the city in 1907, and embraced a wider variety of businesses serving the community.

Judy Wright, historian, preservationist and civic leader once said, “The men built the colleges but the women built the city.” This observation is embodied by the executive director of the Chamber from 1923 to 1944, Lela Ackerman. Lela was called an activist, organizer, visionary, city planner, gardener, advocate, and fun-loving person. She brought the City Beautiful Movement to Claremont, and through the Chamber, a City Beautiful Club was formed and continued until the late 1960s, that sought to achieve unity of design. She had the vision that the City Beautiful movement should support not only civic center improvements, but also comprehensive planning of the entire city.

Under her leadership in 1924, the Chamber established the first planning commission to create a civic improvement plan, build a civic center and back a bond issue for a new fire station. The Chamber organized meetings of townspeople to discuss subdivision regulations, city landscaping, paved streets, and location of business, industry, and residences.

Due to prompting from the Chamber, the City Board of Trustees passed an ordinance establishing a city planning commission. The Chamber worked with the city to develop the plans for the civic center. The first part of the new civic center on Second Street included a first-floor fire and police station and second floor city hall.

Among her greatest accomplishments was often cited the chamber office and proper zoning. In addition, she was credited with instituting sewers, paved streets, sidewalks, trees, public library, garbage collection, tennis courts, the San Antonio Dam for flood protection, fire station, post office, library, Village Theatre, moving the relocation of Arrow Highway, and establishing the Chamber as the voice of progressive citizens, involved not only in promoting and supporting businesses, but in the political and civic life of Claremont. Lela Ackerman was responsible for and did more to establish much of what is valued in the city today.

Given the close relationship between the Chamber and the city, the Chamber of Commerce building was constructed on the northwest corner of Second Street and Harvard Avenue in 1930. In 1948, the City Hall expansion was built that incorporated the Chamber Office and the posts of the old building were changed to arches to complement the new design.

In the early years, projects were spearheaded by the Chamber for the betterment of the community. The Chamber supported the establishment of parks, and participated in the founding of the Los Angeles County Fair.

Early Fourth of July and Christmas programs were sponsored by the Chamber. It distributed items to families in need throughout the year. It served as an employment agency for both workers and employers, collaborated with the Red Cross and operated as a general welfare center, coordinating the work of local agencies through its Claremont Welfare Council. The Chamber even served as the location for the unemployed to register, which became a major function during the Depression.

From the early 1900s through the 1950s, the Chamber supported and promoted the local citrus industry nationally and created displays for the County Fair. The most significant influence on Claremont’s growth after World War II was the establishment of the Postwar Planning Committee by the Chamber. This Committee laid the groundwork for planning decisions that inform the city today. The committee’s work addressed areas such as the business district, finance, zoning ordinances, street trees, fire and police facilities, street maintenance, school district planning and parks, a professional rather than volunteer fire department, a city-manager form of government, designation of street trees for specific streets, creation of a parkways and streets commission, creation of a parks and recreation commission, tightening of zoning ordinances, and a proposal that led to the establishment of Memorial Park.

The Village was not always called that. In the early days of the city, it was called the Central Business District. In 1959, the Chamber launched a campaign to establish the Central Business District as the Village. The campaign, with the cooperation of city officials, enlisted all businesses to refer to the downtown area as the Village, a name that is still proudly used today.

The Chamber began its marketing of the uniqueness of Claremont in 1959 and that identity thrives today. The Chamber worked in conjunction with the hospitality industry to establish the Business Improvement District in 2009. The taxes collected by the hotels established Discover Claremont that markets the City in various media that helps drive visitors and business to the entire city. Discover Claremont, in partnership with the Chamber, reaches potential visitors and customers not only in California, but nationally and internationally as well.

WHAT WE DO

The Chamber operates as the Visitors and Convention Bureau. The Chamber on average fields over 8,000 phone calls, assists with over 6,400 walk-ins, distributes over 21,000 brochures and has over 89,000 page views on its website. The Chamber is the go-to authority for residents and others to seek business resources and provides information and outreach to visitors as Claremont has become a tourist destination.

The Chamber established the annual Village Venture in 1982, to promote businesses and bring nearly 20,000 visitors to Claremont in October each year.

The Chamber supports and advocates for legislation that promotes a healthy community and business environment and quality development. It worked with the City and businesses during the 2007 Recession and during the pandemic to support and advocate for financial assistance programs and initiatives. The Chamber establishes and maintains excellent working relationships with elected officials. The Chamber Chief Executive meets monthly with the City Manager to address challenges facing businesses and to support City endeavors.

The Chamber conducts monthly breakfast meetings to promote networking, business to business connections, and highlights a different business at each meeting. Attendees are able to meet and engage with executive city staff, council members, and other elected officials or their representatives. It conducts ribbon cutting ceremonies to introduce new businesses to the community and to celebrate milestones for established businesses. The Chamber Government Relations Committee meets monthly and representatives from federal, state, and local elected offices report and interact with business leaders.

The Chamber maintains a robust website that helps connect customers to businesses. It holds regular seminars and workshops on topics germane to the business community.

The Chamber holds the annual State of the City luncheon to inform businesses about the city, its initiatives, and challenges. The Annual Installation of the Board and Business Awards program is another opportunity for networking and establishing connections.

The Chamber’s two weekly e-newsletters not only promote Chamber activities, but is an opportunity for member businesses to advertise events, specials. and promotions. Members, community members, and visitors are kept informed through regular postings in social media outlets.

To support member businesses and introduce customers to those businesses, the Chamber holds monthly “Lunch Mobs” where business leaders visit a member restaurant to network over lunch. Chamber business owners and others also gather at member establishments for “Network and Sip events and new member mixers. The Chamber maintains a robust gift card program for member businesses. Customers may purchase gift cards at the Chamber and member businesses then submit them for reimbursement. Unlike other gift card programs, there is no fee to the customer or the business.

An active and engaged Board of Directors and Chief Executive meet monthly to conduct Chamber business and address issues facing the business community. The Board of Directors includes the mayor, superintendent of schools, and a representative from the Claremont Colleges Services. The Ambassador Program consists of a core group of helpful and informed volunteers that check and meet with business owners to assess needs and provide support.

The Claremont Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in the area and promotes and supports its members through its programs and outreach. The Chamber constantly moves forward, looking for ways to support businesses and enhance the visitor experience and responds quickly to challenges and changes, while supporting the civic, economic, and social development of the business community.

The Chamber remains strong and continues its tradition of promoting commerce and community involvement and remains steadfast to its historical beginnings and mission of, “Serving as a driving force of the local economy, the Claremont Chamber of Commerce is committed to business success through advocacy and education with access to leaders and organizations to strengthen and promote the community of Claremont.”