SOLEDAD — Soledad-Mission Chamber of Commerce will not be hosting its Chamber Awards Gala this year, although businesses and residents will still receive awards for Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Friend of the Community and Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to Chamber President Andria Brinson, the Gala will not happen for several reasons, including the costs associated with the banquet and lack of participation by some of the Chamber members and community at large.
“In our large Gala for 2015 awardees, we took an estimated $6,000 loss, and the Gala for 2016, there was only 36 participants that paid for dinner but 84 reserved a ticket and never showed,” said Brinson.
Brinson said that if the community gets behind the Chamber of Commerce activities and events with participation, they would love to go back and start hosting events like the Gala for all to enjoy.
The names of the award recipients has not been announced; however, Brinson says the Chamber Board of Directors and City of Soledad guests will join the Chamber to present the honorees with the traditional plaque, flowers and a gift from the Chamber for their accomplishments on a future date.
