Chamber Denounces City’s Proclamation: ‘It’s a Blow to Small Businesses’

The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce is poised to take a stand on the City of Maricopa’s declaration of November 30 as Small Business Saturday. During a city council meeting on November 19, the city will proclaim this date, seeking the Chamber’s acceptance of the proclamation.

However, the Chamber has announced it will not be present to accept the honor. Kelly Anderson, Executive Director of the Chamber, articulated that their mission is to advocate for local businesses, fostering an environment conducive to growth and collaboration.

Anderson expressed skepticism regarding the city’s commitment to supporting small businesses beyond ceremonial proclamations. She noted a lack of concrete actions from the city in the past year that would demonstrate genuine support for the local business landscape.

Several businesses are contemplating expansion outside Maricopa or relocating altogether. For instance, Lotus Evolutions recently relocated to Scottsdale after being awarded Best Skin Services at Crème de la Copa 2024. Similar sentiments were shared privately by two other unnamed businesses.

Additionally, Impressive Imaging, a local printing business, halted most of its city contracts four years ago, despite previously being a primary supplier for the city. The UPS Store, established in 2005, has yet to receive printing work from the municipal government. Water and Ice, serving Maricopa for over 20 years, provides delivery only to the Fire/Medical Department, leaving no competition among local water delivery businesses.

While the Chamber appreciates the city’s collaboration, such as renting city-owned space and attending community events, Anderson’s remarks reflect a troubling sentiment among local entrepreneurs. “If a business doesn’t like the way things are done in Maricopa, they can just leave,” City Manager Ben Bitter allegedly remarked, highlighting the disconnect between city administration and business owners.

In closing, Anderson reaffirmed that the Chamber is not seeking to criticize the city but instead aims for genuine support and engagement for the community’s small businesses. The intent is to invigorate local commerce and encourage citizens to shop locally year-round, rather than just on designated days.