By Kevin O'Neal

Summer is in full swing, and there’s something about it that brings out the best in our community—sunny sidewalks, outdoor concerts, and small businesses buzzing with energy. This month, I want to take a moment to reflect on what makes El Cerrito special and share a few Chamber updates.

First off, a big thank you to everyone who voted in this year’s Best of El Cerrito campaign. It was inspiring to see so many local favorites celebrated—and a reminder that shopping, eating, and hiring local really does strengthen the heart of our town. Big shout out to our sponsors: El Cerrito Honda, El Cerrito Royale, El Cerrito Natural Grocery, Little Hill Real Estate, Red Oak Realty, Prospect Sierra, City of El Cerrito, NUG, Anime Island, East Bay Sanitary, and more!

At the Chamber, we're keeping that momentum going. We’re actively building partnerships that connect businesses and the broader community. One recent success was finding the Regional Farmers Market Association to take over operations of the El Cerrito Farmers Market. This partnership offers opportunities for Chamber Members and community groups to utilize market booth space, as well as adding more vendors, CalFresh, and live music.

Whether it’s co-hosted events, such as our Lunch and Learn, or having Members engaged in our booth at the July 4th worldOne Festival, or initiatives like our new Chamber Ambassadors program, we’re seeing firsthand how much more we can accomplish when we work together.

Looking ahead, we’re preparing for a busy Fall with new networking opportunities, workshops like the Women Mean Business forum, and events designed to support and grow your business. If you’re not yet a member or haven’t been active for a while, now’s a great time to jump back in.

As always, thank you for all you do to make El Cerrito vibrant, creative, and connected. Let’s keep the summer spirit going—and keep showing up for each other.

Warmly,

Kevin O'Neal
President, El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce