The Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of its inaugural business event, called “Celebrating Community: Business Expo.”  

The free event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8 on the Ottawa-Arizona campus for the communities of Surprise, El Mirage, Sun City, Sun City West, Waddell and Youngtown.

“We, like our entire business sector, have felt the impact of COVID-19 in our day-to-day businesses, so we want to do something concrete to help kickstart the business community,” said Raoul Sada, president and CEO of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For years, the Surprise chamber, along with five other chambers, have organized an event called the Biz-2-Biz Expo in Glendale each year. 

While the chamber still plans to participate in the multi-chamber event, it felt the northwest Valley market has grown sufficiently large enough to support another local event for the six cities in the region.

“We will create a fun day out of the office where the focus is networking, learning opportunities, and engaging members of the community,” said Mary Orta, vice president of marketing and membership for the chamber. “There has been a need for some time for a local show, and now is the right time to push ahead with our plans.”

Mr. Sada said the name for the event and the theme of “celebrating” is very much in order after a year-long crisis. 

“The Celebrating Community-Business Expo reflects the Chamber’s fervently held belief that the health of the business community and the health of the larger community in which it lives are inseparable,” Mr. Sada said. “Building stronger communities is what our Chamber of Commerce is all about. The event is natural for the chamber.” 

Mr. Sada said having the Ottawa campus with all its new facilities was definitely a “game-changer.”

“Having space, educational resources, and the beautiful campus will allow us the showcase not only Ottawa University, but the entire Civic Center and City Center,” Mr. Sada said.

The Celebrating Community Business Expo will showcase local and regional businesses, tourism assets, restaurants, entertainment venues, educational resources, medical and health, fitness organizations and more. 

“We welcome all businesses to get behind this new initiative and take part in what will be a new and exciting marketing and networking venue,” Ms. Orta said. “Unique sponsorship and partnership opportunities will be available, and we will make an effort to have businesses created more interactive experiences for the consumers.”

​For information on the event, click here.