Grigger Jones

ANM: What is your history with the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce?

GJ: As a new lawyer in Atascadero and a new member of the Chamber in 1979, I was asked to join the Atascadero Chamber Board of Directors commencing in 1980. At that time, the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce members met in the back room of Sambo’s Restaurant (now Dennys) for an hour and a half every Tuesday at noon time for lunch, meet and greet and a speaker, led by the Chamber’s president.

In 1981 I was elected by the Board as President, and at 31 years of age, its youngest president in its history, and presided over the Tuesday Chamber meeting, as well as the monthly meeting of the Chamber Board. In 1981, the Chamber membership was little more than 225, and the Board decided to hire a part-time manager to increase the membership numbers, which he did, bringing in many new businesses as members.

I continued to be an active Chamber member throughout the years, and as an eight-year board member worked with its now full-time Chamber managers. In 2013, I was elected the Chamber’s Chairman of the Board to assist in Atascadero’s year-long Centennial celebration, and I continued to serve as its Chairman through 2014.

ANM: What are some of your favorite ways that the Chamber has interacted with the community?

GJ: Annually, the Atascadero Chamber recognizes a local Nonprofit of the Year, a Business of the Year, and a Citizen of the Year. By doing so, our businesses, citizens and chamber members, are able to make greater connections with our small community, and celebrate the greatness of Atascadero and its small town culture.

In its many years of meeting for lunch on Tuesday, the Chamber provided a forum for ideas to improve the Atascadero community, which in 1979 culminated in the issue of Atascadero cityhood being placed on the ballot, which succeeded with the endorsement of the Atascadero Chamber business members.

In 2014, the Chamber recognizing the financial limitations of Atascadero to maintain the 140 plus miles of local streets and roads, requested and assisted the city in formulating Ballot Measure F-14, a one-half cent sales tax, for neighborhood road improvements. F-14 passed and to date nearly $14 million has been spent on neighborhood road repair, improvements and drainage, and over 42 miles of neighborhood road have been repaired.

Being honored as Citizen of the Year by the Chamber in 2007 and in 2016 being honored as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce; one of five people ever so honored by the Chamber, joining Donn Clickard and Maggie Vandergon, currently living.

ANM: How has the Chamber aided Atascadero in its growth over the last 100 years?

GJ: In 2020 the members of the Chamber worked with the City of Atascadero in drafting and thereafter supporting Ballot Measure D-20 providing for a one cent sales tax, which passed, and in its short time since adoption has raised millions to increase public safety needs, police and fire personnel and equipment, and infrastructure in the City of Atascadero.

ANM: What facts can you share about the history of the Chamber?

GJ: From its humble beginning 100 years ago, the Chamber of Commerce has served as an information entry point for new residents and businesses seeking to relocate to this small town. The Chamber has programs to support patronage of its many small business member and with the opening and expansion of “Bridgeworks” in the chamber building many, many small businesses have an affordable place to conduct their affairs in these co-working spaces, with all the amenities of larger offices.

The Chamber continues to celebrate its “women in business”, and has an annual “business walk” when chamber members visit local businesses to ascertain how business is for them and to solicit how the Chamber can further assist them.

ANM: What are some of your favorite things that the Chamber has brought to Atascadero?

GJ: Historically, the Chamber of Commerce 100 years ago, was instrumental, in forcing Southern Pacific Railroad to construct the Atascadero Train Depot, which served the community of Atascadero for over four decades bringing in new residents, businesses and visitors to Atascadero. The Station was featured in a Southern Pacific film to promote travel by train throughout California, and while since no longer existing was described as “the finest on the line between San Francisco and Los Angeles.”

ANM: What is your history with the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce?

DI: Idler’s opened a second location in Atascadero in 1979. I joined the Chamber shortly after that in early '80s. I served on the retail promotions committee for many years. Later I ended up serving two six-year terms on the board with various positions. I was president under Joanne Main’s leadership, but I cannot remember the year. My last position on the board was CFO in 2017.

ANM: What are some of your favorite ways that the Chamber has interacted with the community?

DI: The chamber mixers are always popular, and the annual dinner is always a special event. My favorite event was an educational seminar we sponsored at the Lake Pavilion in about 2005. We hired the “Pikes Place Fish Company” training team out of Seattle. They performed a 2 ½-hour seminar teaching us the “Fish Philosophy” in business management. It was very informative and fun.

How has the Chamber aided Atascadero in its growth over the last 100 years?

The Chamber has always been a place for any size business or organization to get answers and solutions to challenges we face. I consider out Chamber to be essential to overall health and wellbeing of our town.

ANM: How has the Chamber aided Atascadero in its growth over the last 100 years?

DI: I know for many years in the '80s the Chamber was 100 percent operated by volunteers without any paid staff. I can’t remember who lead us.

ANM: What are some of your favorite things that the Chamber has brought to Atascadero?

DI: The events now happening are mostly hosted by the city but the Chamber started many of them. I think the Chamber got out wine festival started also.