Colville Chamber Introduces New Employee

The Colville Chamber of Commerce met on Sept. 8, and introduced their new business manager and events coordinator, Rhonda Delles. Delles, who joined their team in July, discussed her background, including a community-inspired Facebook page she runs, as well as plans for the chamber. “Some of you might know me from a little project I started called ‘Colville Today,’” Delles said, explaining that the Facebook page aims to share a calendar of local events and photos of the community. “I actually started the project about seven years ago, but then COVID hit, and…I put the project on hold. The idea never died, and I started again this winter working on it,” she said. Delles said the response to her Facebook page “has been amazing” and that she’s had 4,470,000 viewers in the last 28 days.

She added that she also created the Colville History website and Facebook page, where she shares her collection of family memorabilia and photos of Colville and the surrounding area. Delles discussed past jobs she’s held including bookkeeping, retail management, webpage and social media development, and professional writing. “I also, in my way, distant past in the ‘80s, was a disc jockey back when they still spun records,” she said. Speaking to her new position with the chamber, Delles said, “I took this position because I feel I have the skills to maintain strict financial accountability. I understand the need for and how to achieve effective digital marketing, and I understand that small changes in behavior, for many people, can have a big impact on our local economy.”

Delles added that total local retail sales in Colville are approximately $338.12 million annually. “When a consumer chooses an independent merchant in town, 45-48% of that money is recirculated directly into our community, through local payroll, regional business purchasing, and business profits. That is the real ripple effect in action,” she said. She continued, “If we can encourage our community to shift their habits by just a 10% increase in local shopping, we inject an additional $33.81 million into our local economy.” According to Delles, that 10% shift could also generate roughly $507,000 in brand new local sales tax for the city. “That’s real money that funds public infrastructure, repairs roads, upgrades municipal services;, and as our local businesses make more, they can offer more options, hire more staff, and raise local wages, directly lifting local families out of poverty.

Small shifts can create massive, life-changing realities for Colville.” Delles also discussed the benefits of shopping locally. “Shopping local has many immediate benefits for the consumer. There’s no shipping, no delay. You get your product immediately. You know what it is, what size it is, and exactly what color it is. You have the opportunity for more social interaction. Most shop owners are friendly folks who are happy to chat with you during the sales process.” She spoke about how she prioritizes highlighting local businesses on Colville Today and emphasized that she hopes to bring that same attention to the Colville Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

“Some of the posts that I share…that are most popular, are the ones that celebrate employees, such as birthdays, promotions, great customer service examples, or new successful ideas. People also really love community service posts…and notice which companies invest back in the community.” She added, “This is what I’m bringing to the chamber. We’re building up our collective social media presence to aggressively promote our members using storytelling that drives real foot traffic to your doors.” Delles also said she will be working to update the chamber’s website. Delles said the chamber plans to partner with Colville Toyota to expand the community’s fall festivities.

She also said this year’s Moonlight Madness event, on Oct. 30, will expand further north on Main Street to include more businesses. “We’re also launching a new tourism campaign called ‘Colville, the Heart of Eastern Washington.’ This is to promote our area, our beautiful forests, and activities [visitors] can do in the area,” Delles shared. The next Colville Chamber of Commerce meeting is scheduled for Sept. 22, where a business showand-tell is slated. Scott Aslakson, chamber president, shared that upcoming lunch speakers include a representative from Front Porch Farms on Oct. 13, Katie Kleinhesselink from Spokane Community College in Colville on Nov. 10, and 7th District Representative Andrew Engell, R-Colville, on Dec. 8.