Letter from our Board Chair, Odette Bolano

Dear Friends of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce,

It is my privilege to welcome you to Boise, the City of Trees, long considered a welcoming place for business, a family-friendly destination, and the proud home of the Boise State University Broncos.

If you have recently relocated to the Treasure Valley, welcome! If you are a member of the Chamber, thank you for your continued support as we work together to support your business in this thriving economic environment. For those of you who have not yet become as involved as you would like, we look forward to helping you make vital connections to support your business.

There are many reasons why Boise is so attractive for newcomers and for long-time residents. Boise is a recreationalist’s paradise with rivers, mountains, canyons, and lakes nearby. Many of Boise’s residents spend their free time enjoying nature, and evenings dining on local cuisine, enjoying cultural attractions including the Opera Idaho, Idaho Dance Theatre, the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Art Museum and Ballet Idaho. And of course, devoted sports fans actively cheer the Boise State University Broncos.

Thus, it is no surprise that of the 150 metro areas in the United States in 2022-2023, U.S. News ranked Boise as #15 in Best Places to Live, #5 in Fastest-Growing Places, #14 in Safest Places to Live, and #17 in Best Places to Live for Quality of Life. (Source: Living in Boise, ID | U.S. News Best Places (usnews.com))

It is my hope that you will find Chamber membership as your company’s gateway to successful business connections. The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce is Idaho’s largest business association and only five-star accredited Chamber in Idaho.

Chamber membership fosters collaboration and cooperation with the region’s thought leaders and strategic visionaries, across all industry sectors including finance, education/workforce, transportation, housing, healthcare, tourism, to name a few.

With 1900+ member businesses representing more than 160,000 employees in the Boise metro area, the Chamber offers a myriad of member services to support your company. Additionally, working together through strategic partnerships with the Boise Valley Economic Partnership (BVEP) and the Boise Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (BCVB), we work hard to help make Boise a preferred place for business.

For more than 127 years, Saint Alphonsus Health System has had a vital footprint in Boise history. As President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus, I consider our relationship with the Chamber as essential to advancing our Mission to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community. We have faced many challenges together- including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our business community not only survived the pandemic, but our economy is now positioned for growth and is thriving. Looking ahead to our future, we have much to look forward to.

On behalf of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, we warmly welcome you, and invite you to come grow with us in this exciting journey ahead.

Sincerely yours,

Odette C. Bolano, FACHE, MHA, BSN, Board Chair, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce