Carson Chamber expands after buying out visitors bureau

The Carson City Chamber of Commerce is expanding.

The chamber is taking over the entire two-story building near the Nevada State Railroad Museum after purchasing the share owned by Carson City Visitors Bureau, which recently moved its offices to downtown’s Carson City Square Building next to the State Museum.

The chamber was able to buy out the bureau for $100,000 thanks to its four-year old travel club, which offers about a dozen international and national tours a year for both members and non-members.

“It’s been a good seller and a great service,” says Ronni Hannaman, the chamber’s executive director.

“Travel has been good to us.”

The chamber hopes to have completed interior renovations by its annual meeting Oct. 30.

Once refurbished, the building will house an artisan shop, visitors’ center and chamber offices in the 2,000-square-foot first floor and a flexible meeting space in 1,500 square feet of the second floor, where the chamber offices are now located.

“Any member with meeting needs can use it, as a training room or classroom,” says Hannaman. “There will be a full kitchen. And it will cost nothing for members, but they must maintain it.”

Hannaman says she is now reaching out to local artists about offering their work in the new shop. Because the building is on state land, Hannaman says the chamber must also continue to offer information for visitors.

Next year, the chamber plans to overhaul the landscaping.

“Our goal and objective is to make the building as attractive as possible,” says Hannaman.

Hannaman says she sees signs of business picking up in the Carson City area.

The chamber, for example, is the certified issuing agent for certificates of origin, documents required for manufacturers to ship products overseas.

Hannaman says the chamber had been issuing about two a month, but starting in the last couple months demand has been averaging about a dozen a week.

The chamber membership fluctuates between 550 and 600 members, says Hannaman.

The group’s annual Carson City Leadership Institute starts Oct. 8. Seventeen people have signed up for the 9-month program to learn how Carson City operates in preparationfor future leadership positions on boards and commission.

The chamber raised $3,645 for the Carson High Culinary Pro Start & Skills USA at its 5th Annual Scramble Golf Tournament at the Silver Oak golf course last month.

And the chamber is helping coordinate a March 4 concert featuring the 53-member U.S. Air Force Band at the Carson City Community Center.

“It will be their first time here,” says Hannaman. “It’s very exciting.”