ARLETA : Growing Chamber Opens New Office
After 20 years, the Arleta Chamber of Commerce and Residents Assn. finally has an office of its own.
On Friday, the chamber will hold a grand opening at its new offices at 9460 Arleta Ave.
The chamber, which doubles as Arleta’s residents’ association, had eked out a meager existence with only a post office box and telephone answering machine for years. The chamber had few members and little influence in the community.
But thanks to the Northridge earthquake, membership has boomed this year, said Hawley Smith, chamber president. Businesses hit hard during the quake suddenly realized their vulnerability and the need for unity, Smith said.
As a result, the chamber’s membership has grown from 10 before the temblor to almost 70 members, Smith said.
The office was made available through a partnership with Eusebia Co., an accounting firm that agreed to share space with the chamber.
One of the first projects the chamber plans is a food drive for the neighborhood’s needy residents. Other upcoming projects include community cleanups, landscaping, graffiti removal and town meetings.
The open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (818) 556-1095.
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