CHAIR'S MESSAGE

As a local business owner, I eagerly await each issue of this magazine. It's an excellent way for us to connect with our community and business partners. Our city boasts a plethora of offerings, from exciting local events to community-enriching businesses, and in this issue, we put a special spotlight on those dedicated to fostering growth and opportunity for our youth.

If you missed our recent events or photos online, I’d like to share that the Santee Business Awards and Local Heroes Event were a resounding success. We celebrated our local businesses and community heroes, and it was a chance to show our appreciation for those who have worked hard to make our city a better place. In my humble opinion, these were the best-hosted events the Chamber has had to date. Check out page 14 for the award recipients.

We're also eagerly anticipating our Santee Street Fair. This is always one to look forward to, featuring performances, music, local artisans selling their goods, delicious food, a beer garden for adults 21+, rides and games for the kids, and an opportunity for everyone to stroll through booths to browse and purchase from local businesses, ready to connect and share their good services.

Living in or around Santee, you likely know that our city is a fantastic place for our youth to grow and thrive. We have outstanding businesses that offer opportunities for our littles to teens to get involved, learn, and have fun. This magazine's theme is youth recreation and services, and Santee has so much to offer in this regard.

Looking ahead we're excited to be working on our new winter event that will close out the year with a bang. Our program, aimed at fundraising and awarding scholarships to local high school students looking to get into the construction trade industry, fits right into one of our brand pillars, Promoting Community Enhancement. This program will benefit our youth by nurturing future talent in the industry. Keep an eye out for more details on how you can support this effort.

In conclusion, let’s continue to support each other, our local businesses, and enrich our youth's lives with all that our city has to offer.

Lastly, if you're not already doing it, come hang out with us on social media-we've got all the latest updates so hit that follow button and join us.

- Melissa Dombo

Santee Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Board