Foresthill Chamber balances country, town life

Journal Staff WriterAttracting business growth while maintaining the small-community quality of life is a balancing act the Foresthill Divide Chamber of Commerce takes very seriously.The 120-member chamber plays an active role in the community, not only representing the business interests but sponsoring community events and lending a hand when assistance is needed. Chamber president Susan Kelly, an Iowa Hill resident who has been on the board for three years, sees preserving Foresthill?s rural character as a top priority. That encompasses such things as protecting the town?s brilliant night sky from encroaching light pollution caused by development and keeping the wealth of forest animals that live nearby.?It?s at a turning point,? she said this week. ?It?s going to take leadership of the community to steer it the way we want. We want planned growth. We aren?t opposed to growth, but we don?t want to ruin our lifestyle.?Members meet Thursday mornings for a Breakfast Roundtable. A membership lunch is held the second Wednesday of the month featuring a guest speaker. The board of directors meets on the last Monday of the month in the chamber office.And this past year has seen a renewed energy, Kelly says.The chamber put out a business directory, which was distributed to all of the approximately 6,000 residents in the zip code 95631. The Web site is in the process of an update. And the membership oversaw the planning and completion of a colorful mural on the chamber building. The artwork offers a look at the rich history and roots of Foresthill, from the Native Americans to the miners to the loggers. ?As we looked at the mural, that is who we are,? Kelly said.While the mural represents the past, the chamber is looking toward the community and its leaders to envision the future.Neil Cochran, a chamber director and editor of its monthly newsletter, explained that this year?s slate of membership-meeting speakers have been business and community leaders who have provided their view of the current state of business in Foresthill, along with their vision of the area?s future.In the short-term, the chamber would like to attract some of the businesses the community lacks, such as a print shop and a drycleaner. A survey of residents also is planned to see what other businesses they?d like to see move into the town.Waters and Cochran agree that the new Foresthill High School will be an important asset for the community. ?The new high school is an integral part of attracting business,? Cochran said.Cochran said the chamber also is closely monitoring the Community Plan draft proposal, presented to the Foresthill Forum by the Placer County Planning Department in early September. The plan will determine rezoning issues and ultimately how fast and how much Foresthill will grow.He?d like to see more small businesses and small industry ? compatible with the forest environment ? that would bring jobs.?We feel fortunate to have Blaylocks that moved up about two years ago,? he said. Blaylocks, owned by Jim Paul, employs 110 workers and makes wiring harnesses for buses, trucks and custom vehicles.But the question is deciding how much growth is enough. Five subdivisions have made applications to Placer County in the past year and a half, Cochran said. And if all were approved and built out, it would double the population.Kelly, who is moving from her job at the Family Resource Center to work as an administrator at the Loomis Basin Large Animal Clinic, says Foresthill is just being discovered. ?It used to be known as backwoodsy, but people are starting to see the beauty of it,? she said.Cochran retired from Xerox and moved to Foresthill from Kansas City three years ago. He and his wife discovered the community when she was visiting their daughter in San Francisco and found a Divide real estate listing on the Internet. After visiting the site and taking photos, the couple decided to buy the property.?We?ve loved every second since we?ve moved here,? Cochran said. ?It?s just wonderful.?Besides being the focal point for business on the Divide, Cochran also emphasized the chamber?s role in service to the community.?Foresthill?s chamber acts much like a service club in many respects, in addition to the traditional role of chamber that emphasizes business related activities,? he said.Among the activities the chamber?s sponsors are the annual Safe Halloween event, where downtown merchants hand out treats. It has been a huge success, last year attracting 500 children.It also jointly sponsors the annual community Christmas tree, with a lighting ceremony on the first Friday in December. Members sponsor or provide money to the Wildfire on the Divide nature day in May, the annual fishing derby at Sugar Pine Reservoir, the Foresthill Heritage Celebration and, new this year, the Gold Miners Ball.Another facet of its uniqueness is the large number of members who run businesses out of their homes. Approximately 30 are retail business owners, Cochran said. But a majority offers insurance sales, travel, sign work, PC repair/training and other such services from their residences.Upcoming plans include a membership meeting Oct. 8, featuring a dinner and election of board directors. Planned at the Monte Verde Inn, it will be a combined session with the Auburn Chamber of Commerce board of directors and ambassadors.Also in October, members will gather for the annual weekend retreat Oct. 24-26 at Hell Hole Reservoir for a planning session for the coming year.