NEW YORK: The Arcata Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors voted this morning to close the California Welcome Center.
In June, the chamber announced that without help the California Welcome Center, located at 1635 Heindon Road in Arcata, would have to close its doors. The center is one of 19 in the state and has been operated by the chamber for the past 15 years.
“At today’s board meeting the board of directors unanimously voted to end the franchise with the California Welcome Center and move from our current location.,” Executive Director Sandy Scott said in an email.
A letter sent out to the board prior to the decision stated, “Efforts to identify financial resources necessary to continue the chamber’s stewardship of the California Welcome Center in Arcata have not been successful.”
Additionally, the letter stated that the chamber is on track to end the year with an operating deficit of about $12,000.
“Without the Welcome Center, the chamber is financially healthy, and could pursue new opportunities and programming,” the letter states.
The resolution agreed on by the board states that the chamber’s executive committee will work toward ending the franchise agreement with the California Welcome Center no later than next month.
The decision to close the center comes shortly before Scott is set to retire. Her last day at the chamber will be Dec. 31.
