Chamber plans cost-saving projects

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PRINCETON — The Princeton Chamber of Commerce is seeking to save money by going green and using less paper.

On Monday, Erika Robbins, director for the Princeton Chamber and Main Street, said the plan is to send the Chamber newsletter through e-mail rather than through regular mail. The Chamber also plans to send its periodic Chamber announcements via e-mail. A copy of the latest newsletter will also be available for download on the Chamber’s Web site.

The Princeton Chamber is looking at other ways to save money and become more environmentally proactive, Robbins said.

“It’s important for us to manage well the money invested into the Chamber by our members,” Robbins said. “Through the use of electronics, we can also get information out faster to our members, and that’s also an important benefit.”

The Princeton Chamber of Commerce has been active in the city for more than 60 years and has 245 members, Robbins said. The Chamber provides many resources and networking opportunities for its members and also provides several community-wide projects, like its Christmas walk.

In other Chamber updates, Robbins said applications are now available for the Chamber’s Building Improvement Grant program.

The Chamber Ambassador Club and the Chamber of Commerce are offering up to $500 in grant money to Chamber members as one-to-one matching funds for the actual costs of qualifying projects. Funds will be offered on a first-come basis until all existing grant money is used, Robbins said.

According to Robbins, the purpose for the grant program is to help Chamber members repair and improve the character of buildings located in Princeton. Although more than one project may be funded on a single property, the total of grant funds for a single property is limited to $500 in any one-year period, she said.

“The goals of the grant program include offering an attractive environment for visitors to Princeton, improving the business economy, adding to the pride of ownership of buildings, and generally improving the quality of life for the residents of Princeton,” Robbins said.

In 2008, the Chamber and Ambassadors awarded nearly $15,000 for improvements to nine Princeton businesses, Robbins said. Some of those projects included roof repair, paint and drywall, new windows and new signage. The projects were estimated to total just over $77,000. The funds were awarded to both new start-up businesses as well as some longtime Princeton business, including one not-for-profit business, Robbins said.

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