Chamber profile: Los Angeles area Chamber of Commerce follows vision.

Picture Los Angeles in 1888. After decades of fits and starts, the emerging region's economic engine is humming* The promise of a beautiful climate and open spaces ripe for planting lures scores of entrepreneurial spirits from across the nation to sunny Los Angeles. As the population booms to an unprecedented 70,000, the region's business owners join together to establish the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Since its inception 116 years ago, the LA Area Chamber has played a key role in the development of the Los Angeles region as one of the world's most diverse and influential economic centers* The Chamber's advocacy efforts in the 20th century helped fund and construct the major investments that made the growth of modern L.A. possible--its reliable fresh water supply, deep-water harbor to accommodate explosive trade growth, an international airport, and extensive freeway system. The area's most community-minded business leaders came together to make their grand visions of the future a reality and facilitated the growth of a modern metropolis.

Today's LA Area Chamber continues that charge, grappling with the effects of the region's phenomenal growth from less than 100,000 to over 10 million in just over a century. Businesses from all over L.A. County come together with a mission to ensure prosperity and quality of life for the entire region, crossing over the county's 88 different city boundaries to plan for a better future: to fix our worn infrastructure, improve our public education system, develop a world-class transportation network, and build the housing the community needs.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE, HELPING MEMBERS GROW

At the LA Area Chamber, nearly 1,400 member organizations take advantage of opportunities not only develop their businesses, connect with potential audiences, and expand their networks, but also to make a difference in the future of Los Angeles. The Chamber offers the valuable benefits members expect from a business organization--special offers on business products and services, member-to-member discounts, premium networking programs and signature industry events. But perhaps the most vital work of this regional chamber occurs in the policy committees and industry councils, where businesses discuss and debate issues affecting the region's economic vitality.

"The Chamber is a place for businesses to look at the big picture and collaborate to make L.A. stronger," said Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Rusty Hammer. "When you've been in business a few years, you start looking beyond your company at issues affecting your bottom line. Why are your business taxes so difficult to compute? Why can't you find workers with the skills you need to fill jobs in your organization? What can you do about the poor condition of the roads in your area and the traffic increasing your employees' commutes, affecting their productivity? That's when a business executive looks to support the work of a regional Chamber exploring these issues."

In an economy as complex and diverse as Los Angeles, the LA Area Chamber's regional focus provides a much-needed forum for discussion and action on the area's growth. Just last year, through its work with Mobility 21, a strategic partnership with Metro and the Auto Club for transportation advocacy, the Chamber secured $500 million for the expansion of the Metro Gold Line into East L.A., providing a vital public transportation option for that area's workers. In 2005, the Chamber's continued emphasis on the region's transportation infrastructure is evident in its advocacy for state Prop. 42 transportation funds; additional federal monies for light rail expansion; and funds to increase security and speed up goods movement at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

But that's just one of many major policy objectives around which the Chamber rallies the business community. Through leadership and consensus-building with other civic organizations, the Chamber engages in policy advocacy around the issues of governance and fiscal reform, business vitality and economic growth, and infrastructure and social services, including education and workforce development, environmental quality, health care and housing.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: LA CAN

Imagine the power of 50,000 Los Angeles County businesses united toward common causes to strengthen the regional business climate. That's the vision of the Los Angeles Chamber Advocacy Network, a new collaboration among the county's chambers of commerce to build consensus in the business community on issues relevant to enhancing the regional business climate and improving our quality of life. LA CAN is designed to increase communication ties and build tools to expand the business community's message to lawmakers, the media, and the community.

The LA Area Chamber facilitates LA CAN in an effort to empower Los Angeles businesses and build a strong business voice in policy debates at local, state and regional government. For decades, labor unions have excelled in harnessing the strength of their numbers in speaking to lawmakers. Now, business is building on that communication model to deliver policy news, advocate positions, and encourage political action at the speed of a few clicks of a mouse.

After successes of recent years, including the beginnings of business tax reform, workers' compensation reform, and transportation infrastructure funding, the business community is poised as never before to collaborate even more closely on today's major policy debates with LA CAN. As a trustee for the current and future welfare of the region, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to continuing its heritage of consensus-building and collaboration to build full prosperity for the Los Angeles region.

For more information about the LA Area Chamber and LA CAN, call 213-580-7500 or visit www.lachamber.org.