In October 2024, the Tahoe Chamber was fortunate to collaborate with other chambers, business associations, and government partners around the lake to survey our local businesses with questions about what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can help. The attached final report, developed by the Tahoe Prosperity Center through meticulously culling the raw data, outlines trends and themes. It serves as both a statement of the current status of our regional economic landscape and a starting point for economic development into the future.

A couple of themes in the report really stick out to me:

Word-of-Mouth & Personal Networks:

Many businesses find success through recommendations from existing staff and connections within the community. (e.g., Word of Mouth, Social Media, In-Person Applications, Networking with Local Groups). Though this theme specifically refers to ways in which employers are reaching out to potential employees, I believe it also speaks to our community’s desire for renewed personal and professional connections as both a social and economic driver.

Chambers/Business Associations:

Businesses are looking to business associations and chambers of commerce to provide more resources and support, such as marketing assistance, business counseling, and advocacy. Chambers of Commerce still have an important role to play in economic development—as connectors and conveners, and as champions for businesses and the people that own and work in them.

The report also raises questions that we look forward to discussing with our members and partners. One that I’ve been thinking about is our workforce: while the majority of employers reported that they are currently fully staffed, we didn’t collect detailed information about industry or employment levels. We have since learned how difficult it can be, not surprisingly, to fill niche positions like engineer, hydrologist, and mental health services.

Please take a look at the report and ask questions, make suggestions, and let us know what the Chamber can do for you and your business. We will always listen.