Mayor John Franklin read this Proclamation at last night City Council Meeting
This year the Vista Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 100th Anniversary of its incorporation on June 6, 1923, with 18 representatives present and all agreeing to become members and the mission of the Chamber is to represent the Vista community by advocating for businesses, planning for our community’s future, giving back through our non-profits, and partnering to make Vista a sought-after place to do business, raise families, shop, dine, and play.
The first Chamber meeting was held on June 13, 1923, where 18 representatives present and all agreeing to become members; and the mission of the Chamber is to represent the Vista community by advocating for businesses, planning for our community’s future, giving back through our non-profits, and partnering to make Vista a sought-after place to do business, raise families, shop, dine, and play. The first Chamber meeting was held on June 13, 1923, where it was decided to offer a reward for the best slogan and on August 16, 1923, the Chamber committee selected the community slogan “Viva Vista” and Mr. EA Marsh of Vista won $20 for offering the winning slogan. On October 11, 1924, the Chamber hosted an event to celebrate the successful bond election to establish the Vista Irrigation District. The party included dancing, a band concert, and a moving picture show On January 24, 1927, the Chamber started its big advertising campaign for the Vista February 4th call election for bonds to build the Lincoln School, and on November 11, 1927, the Chamber started its big advertising campaign for the Vista February 4th call election for bonds to build the Lincoln School.
On November 11, 1927, at the request of the Vista Chamber of Commerce, the Marron Canyon Highway, the road between the Coast Highway at South Oceanside, was renamed Vista Way by the County Board of Supervisors; and in the early 1960’s the Chamber established a committee to begin a study of the area’s facilities with the idea of incorporating the community which led to the incorporating of the City of Vista on January 28, 1963. On July 18, 1961, the Chamber hosted the groundbreaking with the Chamber’s “Golden Shovel’ to make way for $2.5M in flood control channels through Vista. The ground was broken along Buena Vista Creek behind the then Post Office, now the Film Hub and Chamber offices and on February 21, 1963, Max Taylor, Vista Chamber of Commerce Manager was appointed a the Vista City Administrator and on September 24, 1971, David Brinkley of “Brinkley’s Journal,” a nationally televised NBC program, joined the Vista Chamber Board of Directors and said on air that “Vista is one of the best places in the United States to live” and a U.S. weather Bureau spokesperson declared that Vista’s climate is the best. In the 1970’s Vista was named the unofficial Strawberry Capital due to the large juicy strawberries grown in the region. In July 1981, the Chamber moved into the Santa Fe Railroad Depot, and rented the space for $1 per year from the City.
On December 3, 1981, the City council unanimously approved a specific plan for 672 acres for the South Vista Industrial Park. Vista Chamber of Commerce Director, John Cosh, advocated for the approval saying, “The development would provide more than 13,000 jobs for the area and would allow the students graduating out of our high schools and junior colleges to find jobs rather than move out of the community.
In 2006, the Chamber supported Prop L – the half cent sales tax that helped build Vista’s new Civic Center, Sports Park, two Fire Stations, remodel a third Fire Station, and renovated the Moonlight Amphitheatre. In 2007, the Chamber launched the Vista Magazine that featured Shadowridge Golf Club and in 2009 the Chamber launched the first Vista Strawberry Festival, in celebration of Vista’s agricultural roots, and in 2015, the Chamber acquired 127 Main Street for their office.
In 2009 the Chamber hosted the first Vista Strawberry Festival which has grown to one of the largest one-day festivals in the State of California. In 2011 the Vista Chamber and Vista Education Foundation hosted the first Heroes of Vista awards gala and in 2021The Vista Chamber launched Velocity, the Vista Chamber Podcast.
In 2021-2022, the Vista Chamber partnered with the City of Vista to grant more than $2M in business grants to Vista businesses for COVID pandemic relief and the dedicated effort of the Vista Chamber of Commerce has played a major role in maintaining Vista’s quality of life and contributing to the economic growth in our community.
NOW THEREFORE, the Mayor and members of the Vista City Council, do hereby recognize and congratulate the Vista Chamber of Commerce on its 100th year anniversary and look forward to many more years of service and partnership.
