Downey City Council extends agreement with Chamber of Commerce

Joanna Peterson, Jennifer DeKay, Cindy Kovach and Michael Calvert at last year’s State of the City luncheon. The annual event is hosted by the Downey Chamber of Commerce. (City of Downey photo)

DOWNEY — The City of Downey City Council approved an agreement Tuesday extending its partnership with the Downey Chamber of Commerce for the 2025–26 fiscal year, providing $35,000 in city funding in exchange for a wide range of business support, promotional and event services.

Under the professional services agreement, the Chamber is responsible for promoting civic and business services throughout Downey, with a focus on economic development, business retention and community engagement. The agreement outlines specific deliverables the Chamber must complete during the contract term, which runs through June 30.

As part of the agreement, the Chamber is expected to serve as a resource hub for local businesses and the general public by providing information on city services, business assistance programs and available resources. This includes offering promotional, advertising and marketing support to Downey businesses, particularly those seeking to expand or attract new customers.

The Chamber is also tasked with hosting regular programming, including monthly networking events designed to connect business owners, civic leaders and city staff. These events are intended to support business recruitment and retention efforts while fostering collaboration within the local business community.

In addition, the Chamber will coordinate several of the city’s major annual special events, including the Street Faire, Firecracker Festival and Christmas Parade. For each event, the Chamber must manage planning, promotion and coordination efforts, while the city will separately approve event permits and waive certain street-closure fees as part of its support.

Other responsibilities outlined in the agreement include referring businesses to workforce development programs or capital access resources, maintaining a digital communication platform and website with up-to-date information, and providing quarterly updates to the City Council on Chamber activities and progress toward economic development goals.

City officials said the agreement aligns with the council’s economic vibrancy priorities by leveraging the Chamber’s existing relationships and expertise to support local businesses and promote community events. Funding for the agreement was allocated from the city’s General Fund as part of the Fiscal Year 2025–26 operating budget.