After more than a 30-year run, the Greater East Mountain Chamber of Commerce is shutting its doors.
“I will say after the last four years or so, the changes in the economy and challenges for businesses, the chamber had the same things to contend with and deal with,” said Linda Burke, chamber executive director. “Our fundraising is integral and key to funding the costs and expenses of running the chamber. Membership covers half the cost, the other half comes in fundraising and grants. When those events weren’t possible because of the shutdown, it hurt us.”
At its peak prior to the pandemic, membership was at just under 300, she said. It has since dropped to about half of that.
“It was a decision that the board made,” Burke said. “They have given it quite a bit of thought and considered many options but they had to make a practical decision. While none of us like the decision, they are experienced, knowledgeable business people.”
The organization’s big fundraising event comes in the spring with the Business Expo, which was a success this year, but it was the first time it was able to be held since 2019, Burke said.
“We had some grants, but it wasn’t enough,” she said. “And then we weren’t able to do fundraising events a couple of times a year like we normally do. Plus our members are facing challenges with the economy and inflation. We were looking at raising membership rates but how could we do that when everybody is struggling and in the same boat.”
And things are not promising to improve any time soon, Burke said.
“The economy is what it is and we don’t see that turning around fast enough to continue to bridge the gap,” she said. “And even when looking around at events, they are not really getting the same kind of turnout or sponsorships, which is really what non profits need in raising additional dollars.”
The chamber started out serving Edgewood, but expanded east when the Moriarty chamber shut its doors and expanded west when the Cedar Crest chamber shut down.
“We feel strongly about retaining a voice for local businesses, for raising awareness and reminding people about shopping local and reminding them about the importance of that,” Burke said. “When you spend your money in Albuquerque, taxes stay there and they don’t support our local communities at all.”
Even as money was drying up, the chamber tried its best to stay afloat for its members, she said.
“We have continued on the last couple of years and we stretched things as far as we possibly could,” she said. “In the end, you have to have somebody who can run the organization and be effective and if you can’t pay that someone, it becomes a challenge. That’s always the issue for all businesses is having staffing. We’ve cut everything we possibly could. We used to have another, part-time person.”
Fingers crossed, Burke said, this is but a momentary blip.
“I think it is a huge loss for the community, but I hope it is temporary,” she said. “All change comes from local. People do roll up their sleeves out here in the East Mountains. Our businesses have worked hard. It’s just these last four years have been challenging for them.”