A Vibrant Business Expo in South Lake Tahoe
Last month I took the beautiful drive from Truckee to South Lake Tahoe, CA to attend the Tahoe Chamber’s Business Expo at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. I had heard about the party at the South Shore business event of the year and just had to see it for myself!
South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas of El Dorado County make up the southern end of the Sierra Small Business Development Center’s seven county region. We have five active consultants in the South Shore area, who in 2016 assisted over 50 businesses with challenges such as access to financing, expansion and growth, rebranding and marketing, sales strategies, and start-up structure. Our South Lake Tahoe consultants are community members who share their expertise with clients to increase the area’s economic development, elevate the business community, and create jobs.
With my home and office being in Truckee, I can feel a bit stuck in the North Lake area (especially in the winter!) so I wanted to head south and catch a glimpse of the thriving economy of South Lake Tahoe that our consultants are so involved with. According to the Tahoe Chamber’s website, “the annual Business EXPO is the most dynamic business event of the year that showcases Tahoe Chamber members raising the bar in business!” and this could not have been more evident that night. From the moment I walked through the door, the energy and excitement in the room was palpable. All types of businesses and non-profits were displaying their work proudly, and the guests cruising the room were thrilled to learn more about each company’s work.
From local restaurants dishing out samples of their food, to breweries sampling their beers, to non-profits like TRPA, and representatives from El Dorado County, the variety of businesses and resources available was impressive. In addition to the booths, a silent auction highlighted the experiences and products unique to the South Lake Tahoe area, making clear how vibrant the offerings of the South Shore truly are. I even ran into one of our clients, Bettsfit Bras! It was great to see the level of interest in this successful Tahoe business.
The Expo is described by the Tahoe Chamber as “an outstanding opportunity for all Chamber member businesses to promote products and services, network among other business owners and discover new resources on the South Shore.” Congratulations to the Tahoe Chamber on an event well done! SBC’s Sierra SBDC was grateful for the opportunity to attend the Expo, and looks forward to continuing our support of economic vitality in South Lake Tahoe.