Profile: San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

A Proud Heritage and a Bright Future... 
One January night in 1870, Alonzo Horton and a few men gathered under kerosene lamps and founded an organization that was to become a guiding force in the development of San Diego. In its early years, the Chamber of Commerce focused its efforts on bringing railroads into San Diego and encouraging settlement in the area.

One of the Chamber's top priorities then was to bring fresh drinking water to San Diego residents, and also to bring commerce into the harbor. The Chamber played a critical role in bringing military bases into the region prior to World War I. Today, the military presence is a driving force for the local economy.

Over the years, the Chamber has been involved with public policy issues that have successfully shaped the face of the San Diego we know and love. Balboa Park in 1868 was nothing more than 1,400 acres of sagebrush until the Chamber of Commerce, in 1909, raised the funds to create the park that we know today. Likewise, in 1962, the Chamber's Harbor Committee helped pass the legislation needed to complete the construction of the Coronado Bay Bridge seven years later.

Today, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is still one of the most influential forces in local government and regional economic development. With more than 3,000 members, the Chamber of Commerce is actively involved in public policy and providing valuable resources to its members. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is still the nonprofit business advocacy group that Alonzo Horton envisioned more than a century ago. With more than 130 years of experience, the Chamber offers unprecedented benefits, discounts, and opportunities to make San Diego businesses prosperous. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is excited to pave the way for a growing regional economy as we venture into the new millennium.

Vision The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce will be acclaimed as a leader and catalyst in facilitating value for its members by optimizing their competitive viability in the regional, national, and global marketplaces.

Mission Statement 
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing broad-based economic value for its members and the international region.