COLUSA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - Announcements

Grow Your Business: Introduction to Federal Contracts

Tue, 27 May 2025 17:24:45 GMT

Building Local Business

The Federal Government is the World's largest buyer of goods and services.

Federal agencies purchase over $800B in goods and services each year.

23% of all prime contracts are designated for small businesses.

Please join us to learn more about how to do business with the Federal Government.

Topics will include:

How the government buys goods and services

SBA's role in Government contracting

How to define your products and services

SBA's Federal Government contracting programs

Small business set-asides

Marketing your business & identifying Federal opportunities

How the SBA and its Resource Partners can help

On-line

Thursday, June 26, 2025, | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Register today!

100+ Best Things You Can Do For Your Community That Don't Require Anyone's Permission

Wed, 21 May 2025 18:14:04 GMT

Bringing Local Back begins with building community. In a small town it sounds like a daunting task. It’s easy to get bogged down, thinking there’s too much to do, that you’d need too many permissions or it would take too much money. The reality of building community is it’s a change of mindset to take small steps. The benefit is, a strong and vibrant community builds strong and vibrant businesses.

Everywhere you look there are lists. Many are grand and expensive calls to action. I recently came across this list curated by Becky McCray. It struck me by how simple it actually is. Read it through. Find ideas that interest you. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone to try something new. You're going to find 2, 3, or more people who enjoy what you enjoy. You're going to create a community and also build the community.

Of particular interest to me are the activities that cultivate saying positive things, and sharing good news and ideas in your town. Taking pictures of things you like and sharing them online. Introduce yourself when meeting someone new, and walk or bike when you can. You're going to see old friends, make new ones and really see your town. Here's Becky's list.

Hang out downtown, in the park, in plazas and pocket parks. Take a book or a snack. Invite friends. Have conversations.
Cook extra and share with a neighbor.
Introduce yourself when meeting someone new.
Smile and remind people of your name.
Walk. Park and walk to run errands. Park further from where you want to go.
Walk more slowly. Take time to mosey more often.
Hold a (music) jam session in your neighborhood or downtown.
Bike. Bike your errands. Bike to work. Bike to the park.
Make a list of everything in your town you can walk or bike to in 30 minutes. You might be surprised.
Attend the arts and music events at local schools and colleges.
Go to community performances and events. Cheer. Share praise online.
Eat outside at local cafes and at picnic tables and benches downtown.
Sit down for a meal with someone not like you. Someone from the community who is from a significantly different background, ethnicity, class, income level, or education. Listen.
Spend more time in your front yard and on your front porch.
Dress the front of your house to be inviting. Set out extra chairs and invite friends to join you.
Drop in on the library and ask about what they have besides books.
Take pictures of things you like in your town and share them online.
Shop the farmers’ market. Try something. Share pics online of what you cook.
Walk into a local store. Take 5 friends. Spend $10 each.
Walk into a local store. Take 2 pictures of something you didn’t know they had for sale. Post online.
Start or join a walking or running group.
Make and share a list of every public walking trail or meditation path in your town including those in parks, on church grounds, at schools, and along public waterways.
Enter something you’ve created or grown in the county fair.
Start a community betterment group. Pick items from this list or make up your own ways to improve your town.
Plant a tree.
Plant flowers in unexpected places.
Dig and divide plants and put the new plants where others can see and appreciate them. Ask neighbors if they have plants you can divide and share.
Start a positive hashtag for sharing good news and ideas in your town. Comment, like and share good things.
Participate in art walks, downtown strolls and evening events.
Hang string lights.
Start a rock hunt. Find some small rocks, paint them and hide them outdoors downtown. Make a hashtag or online group so people can post photos when they find them.
Plant an extra row in your garden to share.
Grow a community garden with neighbors.
Set up a table in a public place or at a farmers market to give away extra produce.
Donate extra produce to the food bank.
Put googly eyes on something. Use non-destructive adhesive like poster tack.
Talk to your neighbors. Learn their names.
Lead a photo walk. Invite friends to walk around and take pictures of good things. Notice things you like and share them.
Host a street dance. Or empty lot dance or parking lot dance or…
Start a sing-along. Anywhere, anytime.
Wash the outside windows on an empty building.
Pull weeds from public flower beds and boxes.
Shovel snow for a neighbor.
Talk to young people. Ask about what they want in your community.
Sweep your own sidewalk.
Find something that needs a simple repair, like a wooden flower box or a loose board on an empty building. Repair it.
Work outdoors. Take your laptop for coworking in the park or at tables downtown.
Carry a small trash bag when you walk or run to pick up trash.
Hang a trash bag at a spot where people tend to gather and leave trash because there’s no trash can.
Send written thank you cards and letters to people who do good things in town.
Start a Coffee and Calendars gathering. Invite people for coffee and ask them to bring the calendars and plans for any groups, organizations or boards they work with. Share community events and plans with each other.
Make a cardboard playground. All you need is cardboard, scissors, tape, random material and stuff, and kids.
Host a pop-up business from a local crafter or artist in a building or business you own.
Plant herbs in empty flower boxes or pots.
Paint a temporary mural on cloth, cardboard, coroplast (plastic sign material), or sheet metal. Hang it using magnets, sticky tack, or bungee cords.
Put up directional signs to all kinds of things: parks, murals, art, businesses.
Use your town’s waterfront, creek, lake or river. Mow and clean up a small patch and hold an open picnic to start. Talk about what you’d like to do or see. Can you boat or kayak?
Add benches.
Host a game night with your neighbors in your home.
Host a game day at a local park.
Create chalk art on sidewalks, bare walls, and retaining walls.
Display fabric art everywhere.
Host lawn croquet and invite your neighbors.
Welcome newcomers to your town with a dinner or event.
Hire a young person to help you out.
Make and share a list of free activities in your town like public fishing, bird watching, or outdoor exercise equipment.
Start a book club, painting club, or learning club.
Feature local art for sale on the walls of your business.
Paint something that needs it like a picnic table, bench or pole.
Barter and trade with each other. Loan each other tools.
Create a library of things: tools, cake pans, kitchen tools, musical instruments, all free to check out like library books.
Start an Old Geezers Club, where older folks can bring their tools and share a workspace with anyone who wants to make something.
Hold a repair cafe: bring together people who can fix things (including sewing) and let anyone bring anything that needs fixed.
Make a free-stuff wall or space.
Put out books for free in neighborhoods that are far from the library or near a gathering place like benches.
Listen to stories from older people and people who are new in town. Document and share them.
Hold a potluck with your neighbors.
Start a poetry reading or writing marathon .
Create a nature viewing area on your property.
Dress up a neglected parking lot.
Start practicing yoga in the park and invite a friend.
Give away extra plants or pots.
Host a block party on your block.
Host a community dinner, lots of people at one long table. Put conversation starters on the tables.
Fill a box with outdoor toys. Place it at a local park in the mornings, and bring it in in the evening.
Host neighborhood parents for an evening wrapping presents and putting together toys before Christmas.
Show a movie outdoors.
Mow an empty lot or a neighbor’s lawn.
Tell a traditional story or ghost story to young people.
Display quilts or fabric arts on a railing, any railing.
Set up a telescope and show people other planets.
Add positivity to online groups. Volunteer to moderate comments.
Use an empty building you own for an activity or event.
Donate all or part of your building windows for community events or children’s art.
Teach a workshop in a skill or craft.
Add a public wifi channel to your business or personal router. Post a sign.
Find public wifi anywhere in town and post signs so others can use it.
Start a neighborhood cleanup. Clean your own yard and invite others to join you.
Notice fruit and nut trees that go unharvested in public places. Harvest and share the crop with the food bank or senior center.
Plant vines or flowers to grow up the public side of a fence.
Decorate chain link fences with art or colorful slats.
Make a “What to do in (town)” Pinterest board.
Start a reading club or a silent book club: invite folks to bring a book, read quietly for 30 minutes or so, then optionally share something from the reading with each other.

If you like these, reply and add your own ideas! We're interested to hear what interests you and your experiences with your community.

4 Things to Do During Small Business Month to Grow Your Company

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:24:29 GMT

Want to scale your business? Achieve your goals with these core growth strategies and activities.

May is Small Business Month , a time to support and celebrate the contributions of America’s 33.2 million small businesses and startups. It’s also the perfect time for entrepreneurs to explore new ways to grow their companies.

Whether you’re a team of one or managing a fast-growing operation, this month is a great opportunity to hit pause on the daily hustle and focus on working on the business, not just in it. Here are four high-impact areas you can focus on with actionable growth ideas you can tackle today, this week, or throughout the month.

1. Refine your marketing strategy

Marketing is an important element of big-picture business growth, but it’s hard to focus on it when you’re caught up in day-to-day business operations. This Small Business Month, block out some time for analyzing your current marketing strategies and adjusting your approach to best support your current business goals.

Here are a few areas to consider:

Social media. Choose one channel to optimize during Small Business Month. Create a channel-specific strategy that ties into your overall social media marketing plan. Brainstorm ideas using our strategy guides for TikTok , Facebook (Meta) , and Instagram , or check out some of LinkedIn’s tools for small businesses .

Video marketing. According to 2025 data from Wyzowl , 93% of marketers have reported a positive ROI from their video marketing efforts. Find inspiration with seven unique ways to leverage video content for your business .

Content marketing. Refresh your blog with timely, SEO-friendly content that addresses your customers’ top questions. You can also consider creating a lead magnet, such as a webinar or white paper, to grow your email list, and send a value-packed newsletter to re-engage subscribers. Repurposing existing content into new formats—like turning blog posts into videos, infographics, or social media posts—can help you get more mileage out of your efforts. For ideas and inspiration, read our guide to creating small business content that generates leads.

Public relations (PR). Increase positive PR with a plan that outlines weekly PR tasks, such as partnering with micro-influencers or answering questions on platforms like Qwoted and Featured.com . You can also research publications and podcasts that target your ideal audience and pitch them directly with your expertise.

Take it one channel at a time and create achievable, short-term goals for improvement. Next, determine what financial and time resources your plan requires. Put your system into action with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that move your company forward.

2. Optimize your website

Is your website at the top of the search engine results page (SERP)? Website design and SEO improvements can increase search engine visibility, which means more potential customers will land on your website.

Follow these tips to optimize your website for SEO :

Assess your website regularly. Use free tools like HubSpot’s website grader or Google Lighthouse to assess your site and view recommendations. Also, consider running an A/B test. This is where you change one website element affecting conversions, such as your main call to action (CTA).

Leverage SEO resources. Google Marketing Platform offers free tools for small business website optimization. Learn more about key SEO strategies for small businesses , and explore additional free SEO tools you can use to enhance your efforts.

Conduct key word research. Consider each key word's search intent, volume, competition, and value.

In addition to optimizing for SEO, it’s best practice to ensure your website is accessible to users with disabilities. Review the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and guidelines for web accessibility .

This Small Business Month, block out some time for analyzing your current marketing strategies and adjusting your approach to best support your current business goals.

3. Improve customer relationships and engagement

Strong customer relationships drive long-term success, so this Small Business Month, look for ways to increase customer engagement and loyalty. Here are a few ideas to consider:

Build a community around your business. There are several types of programs you can launch to increase engagement and a sense of community among your customers. A loyalty program can help increase the frequency of sales, while a customer referral program rewards clients for sending friends your way. To go one step further, consider a brand ambassador program that gives customers the tools and incentive to promote your business.

Create systems for gauging the customer experience. Automate post-sale surveys to capture the voices of your customers. Follow up with clients and have systems in place to document interactions. Listen to a few customer service calls to spot-check quality standards.

Refine your customer review process. According to BrightLocal , 97% of consumers read reviews of local businesses at least occasionally, and 42% do so regularly. If you don’t already have one, create a process to request, monitor, and respond to reviews. Be proactive about asking satisfied customers for positive reviews and addressing negative feedback with professionalism.

Show appreciation for your customers . Small tokens like handwritten notes and celebrations of customer milestones can go a long way.

4. Delegate and automate tasks to free up your time

As a business owner, your time is one of your most valuable resources. Are you wasting it on tasks that don’t directly drive growth?

This month, take a hard look at your workload and identify what can be outsourced or automated so you can focus on the work only you can do. Ask yourself which tasks are essential for you to handle personally, and what could be done faster, better, or more affordably by an employee, contractor, or automated tool. Some commonly outsourced small business tasks include social media marketing, public relations, bookkeeping and tax preparation, and IT management.

For tasks that stay in-house, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) can save time and boost consistency. AI-powered tools in particular have become increasingly accessible for small businesses. Here are a few areas where automation or AI can make an immediate impact:

Customer service. As customer demand for quality service increases, AI-powered customer service tools can fill in the gaps. Consider leveraging AI chatbots to answer basic queries, sentiment analysis tools to understand how your customers feel, or intelligent routing systems to connect customers with the right (human) support team member.
Graphic design. Try AI graphic tools that can simplify photo editing, from removing backgrounds to applying custom color palettes and fonts. Some even allow you to generate graphics from text or rough sketches.
Content writing. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT for your business can help you brainstorm content ideas and draft marketing copy, saving you time and overcoming writer’s block.
Sales. There are plenty of available tech tools for streamlining sales . Consider automating lead nurturing with email sequences, CRM follow-ups, or abandoned cart reminders to keep prospects engaged without constant manual outreach.

Of course, there are some things AI can’t do for your small business—things like customer relationships, strategy, and creativity still need a human touch. But by outsourcing and automating things that don’t need your direct involvement, you free up your time for high-impact work that moves your business forward.

Chamber Celebrates Grand Opening and New Member

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 18:20:28 GMT

Congratulations Manny Patel and the Sparks by Hilton group.

Celebrating the Grand Opening of Spark by Hilton in Colusa

The Colusa County Chamber of Commerce was proud to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Spark by Hilton Hotel alongside our newest member, Manny Patel . This exciting addition to Colusa County brings fresh energy, modern accommodations, and a warm welcome to travelers visiting our County.

Executive Director Jack Cunningham , along with Chamber Board Members Ryan Finnen and Sue Gibbs , worked together to help make the grand opening a memorable success. The Chamber is thrilled to support Manny and the entire Spark by Hilton team as they open their doors and begin this new chapter in Colusa County.

Welcome to the Chamber family, Manny—and congratulations on this exciting milestone!