Welcome!

Welcome to the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce!

A year ago we incorporated the new Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) to spearhead economic development and increase vitality on Capitol Hill. We elected a strong Board of Directors to guide the Chamber, and in June 2007 the Board hired Executive Director, Jack Hilovsky. In October Program Manager, Jessica Norouzi, joined the staff. In March we moved from a storefront office on E. John St. off Broadway one block north to a small house on 925 E. Thomas St. Please come visit us and learn how we are bettering your community, Capitol Hill!

Our Key Accomplishments To Date:

• Reached our goal of 100+ members by end of 2007 and continue to grow
• Scheduled and began hosting monthly membership meetings.
• Created a website to serve businesses: www.caphillchamber.org
• Public Property Improvements:
  • New street signs
  • Crosswalk re-striping
  • Graffiti removal on public property
  • Street cleaning
  • Power washing street utility poles
  • Painting fire hydrants
  • Additional waste receptacles
  • Clean-up news boxes
  • Street tree replacement along Broadway
• Neighborhood Survey: Completed a neighborhood survey of businesses to determine what YOU want from your Chamber and in your neighborhood, and built a database to compile a business services directory and walking map (coming in summer 2008)
• Biannual Street Sweep Event: Organized community clean-up of Capitol Hill business districts in May and October by volunteers and Action Team members, including graffiti removal, scraping posters off light poles, sweeping litter and window cleaning. Our last Street Sweep was on Sat, May 10 in the 15th Avenue Business District. It was a very successful event with over 100 volunteers!
• City Partnership: Established a close working relationship with the Mayor's Office and City Council. The Office of Economic Development enthusiastically supports the new Chamber of Commerce as we work to revitalize Capitol Hill.
• Sound Transit: Engaged Sound Transit leadership to advocate for the neighborhood in the design of the Capitol Hill light rail station and mitigation funding plan for impacted area businesses. Construction will span more than 7 years, starting in 2009.
• March 2006 Retail Forum: Over 100 people attended this forum, which resulted in an independent Retail Strategy Study. The study, released in 2007, is currently inspiring businesses and property owners to develop a stronger retail mix.
• CHID: In partnership with property owners on Broadway and Pike/Pine, the Chamber intends to establish a local improvement district to support "clean and safe" programs that are community-controlled and not subject to fluctuations of the City budget. The petition drive was officially launched at the April 17th kick-off event

PLEASE JOIN US NOW and support your Chamber: We have the energy, enthusiasm and commitment to make Capitol Hill a thriving, vital community for all comers! To see how you can get involved contact Jack at jack@caphillchamber.org, or call 206-328-6646. We need your ideas, concerns, and financial suppport.