Your Chamber
Building a Stronger Capital Region
The Sacramento Metro Chamber leads with a collective voice that brings members together for businesses to prosper by providing the opportunity, service, and solutions for a thriving regional economy.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce was established in 1895 to represent the business interests of fast-growing community. Ever since, the Metro Chamber has advocated for economic prosperity in California’s Capital Region on behalf of those who own, operate, or are looking to start a business here in the Sacramento region.
Advocating For Business for 131 Years
The Sacramento Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1895 by a group of prominent business leaders advocating for the construction of levees for flood protection and irrigation on the Sacramento River. It has been a fixture in the region’s business landscape ever since. A lot of incredibly important—and sometimes forgotten—milestones have come about in our 131-year history.
We lead with a collective voice that brings members together to provide opportunity, service, and solutions for a thriving Capital Region economy.
No question unanswered.
No business unsupported.
No member ignored.
Milestones Over the Years
View Milestones
Membership in 1895 was open to “any reputable person in Central or Northern California,” and dues were a $5 initiation fee and $1 monthly dues payable quarterly in advance.
The Sacramento Chamber endorses a $75,000 road bond, later approved by voters, to implement permanent highway improvements on a 20-mile stretch between Sacramento and Folsom.
Voters approved a $75,000 bond that the Sacramento Chamber initiated, which would fund necessary improvements on the region’s river channel.
The Sacramento Chamber organizes businesses to pledge funds to establish Mather Field as an aviation school.
Chamber successfully lobbies to get Mather Field established.
Among others, Adolph Teichert, Jr. is elected to a two-year term on the Sacramento Chamber Board of Directors. He would remain involved in various capacities through the 1940s, including serving on the Chamber’s post-war planning committee, during which time he had the foresight to voice recognition of the vital role construction of the channel would have in creating jobs in the Sacramento region.
The Sacramento Chamber was an active proponent in the construction of the Tower Bridge. It cost $994,000 and helped elevate a growing traffic burden. It’s dedication ceremony drew more than 10,000 people.
The Sacramento Chamber organizes efforts to establish McClellan Air Force Base.
The Sacramento Chamber establishes a housing department to address the abundant requests for rentals. WWI Veterans were deciding to establish homes in the region because of increasing job opportunities in the city’s expanded industries.
The Sacramento Chamber successfully recruited Campbell’s Soup Co. to the region.
While it didn’t earn the moniker Cap-to-Cap until much later, a handful of Sacramento business leaders traveled to Washington D.C. to dissuade federal officials from closing Mather, Travis and McClellan air force bases, a move that would have crippled the region’s economy. The trip inspired the first of what is now over 50 regional lobbying efforts to our nation’s capital.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber helps to establish the Kings NBA franchise in Sacramento.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber launches its Leadership Sacramento program to grow regional business leaders.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber launches its Leadership Sacramento program to grow regional business leaders.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber establishes Metro PAC as an independent political action committee to endorse candidates and campaigns that elevate the growth of a strong business community.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber helps lead successful opposition to AB 680, regional tax sharing agreement.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber led the campaign to approve Measures G and H in Sacramento County, preserving a vital source of revenue for Sacramento County.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber spearheads a diverse political coalition to renew the Measure A transportation sales tax. The sales tax provides a 30-year legacy of funding for projects to keep goods, services and people moving. Measure A wins 75% voter approval.
Through Cap-to-Cap programs, the Sacramento Metro Chamber secures regional transportation funding, kept Beale AFB off BRAC list, and gained significant concessions from Army Corps of Engineers as it relates to bureaucratic delays and hurdles. Also in 2005, along with two regional partners, the Partnership for Prosperity, a regional economic development strategy planning process was launched.
SAFCA assessment district passes as a result of a Sacramento Metro Chamber-driven campaign.
The Chamber Foundation launched a young professional program, Metro EDGE, to provide space for young professionals to engage, develop, give and elevate within the region.
Metro Chamber leads coalition of businesses and organizations to defer a local minimum wage increase.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers and EPA supported regional Habitat Conservation planning efforts and reforms to the 404permitting programs.
Lead the coalition that advocated against and blocked local rent control policy that would negatively impact the Sacramento City housing market.
As a result of pandemic related crisis, Metro Chamber launched regional Rapid Response Business Triage Hotline and Web Resource providing critical support for business
Advocated for and supported the passage of Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act.
We represent the business community and their workforce in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.
Data from 2020 Census data and EDD 2021 Size of Business data