Over the last year, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce has continued to support our community through its work. As stated in its mission, the Chamber ‘strengthens the business climate and improves the quality of life in the Fremont community.’ During the pandemic, the work of the Fremont Chamber changed to meet new needs – but they recently also acknowledged the work by others in 2020 to improve Fremont!
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce distributed awards in early March. They gave out their established awards to:
- Leo Griffin as a Volunteer Extraordinarie for the Jim Daly Press-On-Regardless Award, for grant writing assistance
- Fremont Mischief Distillery for the Bertha K. Landes Award, for their quick work converting their business into a hand-sanitizer factory turning expired spirits, beer and wine into this precious commodity at a very propitious time
- Carrie Bauer, at F. Day School, for the Fremont Patches Pal Award, for her work serving the children of our community with on-line learning resources and meals
- Ship Canal Water Quality Project for the Hammering Man Award, and not closing streets around Fremont while constructing this massive infrastructure improvement
- Tableau for the Local Hero Award, for their generous donations through the Center of the Universe Small Business Relief Fund
- Fremont Sunday Market for the Solstice Award, acknowledging their tireless commitment to re-opening and bringing visitors back, safely and securely
- Dreamland Diner for the Rodman Miller Irrepressible Creativity Award, and their hustle to open and serve our community and their industry people
In addition to these regular, annual awards, the Fremont Chamber also awarded specific acknowledges for:
- Brilliance Under Fire – Canlis
- Standing Strong – The Watershed Building, for their efforts to build a superior, ecological building
- Galactic Legends – Adobe and Google, for being founding donors to the Center of the Universe Small Business Relief Fund
- Cometa Fremont (the Fremont Comet) – Seattle Art Cars, and Kelly Lyles, for their COVID caravans to senior and low-income housing facilities, and two tailgate events in Fremont
- Troll-tastic – Boys & Girls Club at B.F. Day Elementary
- Out Of This World – Sfingiday, for unrelenting efforts to support the safety of the neighborhood with a block watch, and handwashing stations for the homeless
- Spirit Of Fremont – Stephanie Hara of Show Pony, for being a long-term source of positive energy in our community
The Fremont Chamber also gave out a Lifetime Membership – something given only once before – to Pete Hanning, the last owner of the Red Door, for his tremendous positive spirit and generous contribution of time and energy to the work of the Chamber and our community.
The year of 2020 was difficult for absolutely everyone, but some found ways to ease the sufferings of those around them and to make others ways just a little bit better. The Fremont Chamber wanted to acknowledged these efforts, and to reward at least a few of these businesses and individuals for their generosity during a hard time. Thank you everyone!!