April 16, 2002
LODI NEWS
SENTINELClements-Lockeford chamber needs to promote business better,
president says
By Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel
staff writer
Until this year, the Clements-Lockeford Chamber of Commerce
hasn’t done what most chambers do — help businesses become more
successful, chamber President Eileen Indelicato said.
Indelicato wants to change that by forming a business
association.
“We have some events that bring people through town, but I
don’t think we put enough emphasis on businesses,” she said. “I
want to let new people in the area know what we have here. I’d
also like to attract some people driving down our highway every
day.”
A public meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. April 30 at
Eileen’s Country Cafe, 13410 E. Highway 88, to discuss how
merchants can become involved. Nonchamber members are invited.
Lockeford and Clements have about 100 businesses, including
home-based businesses, but about one-third aren’t chamber members.
Indelicato said she wants to convert Lockeford from being a
“drive-through town” into a “get-out-of-your-car town.”
“We have 10 or 12 people who are very active,” Indelicato said.
That’s not enough, she said.
One of Indelicato’s goals is to make the business district on
Highway 88 more attractive by having paint days or cleanup days.
The new business association could also discuss government
issues that affect businesses, such as California Department of
Transportation regulations prohibiting sandwich-style signs and
merchandise on sidewalks within Caltrans’ right of way, and truck
traffic on Brandt Road from a rock quarry on the east end of
Brandt south of Clements.
“I agree with her enthusiasm, but it has to be for the common
good,” said Preston Ledbetter, a former president of the chamber.
Ledbetter agrees the chamber has gotten away from promoting
commerce. He also agrees with Indelicato that Lockeford has
several unusual businesses to attract customers, such as antique
shops, a meat market and a NASCAR store.
“I think Lockeford needs to have its role as a destination
expanded,” Ledbetter said. “The biggest problem you have is too
many chiefs, not enough Indians. You don’t have enough worker
bees, which is common in a small town.”
When you don’t have enough people involved in the community,
the enthusiastic people lose interest, he said. |
