The Sublette County Chamber of Commerce recently asked our members and community for honest feedback about the Chamber, the value we provide, and the role you believe we should play moving forward. We are listening.
We received a wide range of feedback, including positive feedback about the work the Chamber has done, thoughtful ideas for the future, concerns about where we can improve, and honest conversations about what our business community needs. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their perspective.
That feedback made it clear that many businesses and community members do not feel the Chamber in its current form is providing the level of value and support they expect. At the same time, the Chamber is facing significant financial and staffing limitations that make continuing as usual neither responsible nor sustainable.
Because of this, the board has made the difficult decision to pause the majority of Chamber operations through the end of 2026 while we reassess and reorganize. Over the next several months, we will work with community leaders, local businesses, organizations, and partners throughout Wyoming to gather input, better understand needs, explore resources and partnerships, and determine what role, if any, the Chamber can sustainably serve going forward.
At the beginning of 2027, after that work, the board will make a final decision regarding the future direction of the Sublette County Chamber of Commerce.
For the remainder of this year, the Chamber will continue with member mixers and ribbon cuttings that are already scheduled. We will not be accepting new memberships or processing renewals during this time.
During this pause:
• Existing member mixers and ribbon cuttings that are already scheduled will continue.
• New memberships and membership renewals will be paused.
• The Chamber will not take on new events or programs.
• The Chamber will step away from organizing several traditional community events for the remainder of this year. We hope other organizations, nonprofits, businesses, or community members may be willing to carry some of these traditions forward. If another group is interested, the Chamber is willing to share historical information, materials, contacts, and knowledge we have available to help make that transition as smooth as possible.
If you joined as a new member or renewed your membership within the last 30 days, please contact us directly. We recognize the timing of this decision and want the opportunity to work with those members individually regarding their recent membership payment.
This was not an easy decision, nor was it ever the direction we hoped the Chamber would have to take. The Chamber’s goal has always been to advocate for local businesses, strengthen our economy, and support the communities of Sublette County.
Right now, however, we simply do not have the resources or capacity to provide the level of service our community is asking for and deserves. Rather than continuing simply because “this is how it’s always been done,” we believe the responsible choice is to stop, listen, evaluate, and determine whether there’s a better way forward.
Over the next several months, we will take the time to look honestly at the Chamber’s role, structure, and future. We will consider what our members value, where we can improve, what resources are available, and how the Chamber can best serve our business community in a sustainable way.
We are truly grateful to everyone who took the time to share their feedback, whether that feedback was positive, critical, or somewhere in between. We appreciate the honesty, ideas, and time that went into those conversations, and we are taking that feedback seriously.
We sincerely apologize for the disruption this may cause, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our members and community as we work together to determine what comes next.
