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SPRINGS Community Alliance |
Economic and community development in the Valley’s unincorporated “Springs” communities of El Verano, Boyes Hot Springs, Fetters Hot Springs, and Agua Caliente is a top priority of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce. Starting with Valley Improvement Project Committee more than 20 years ago, the Chamber facilitated an ongoing partnership between county government representatives, elected officials, businesses, community organizations, schools, and private citizens to focus on enhancing the Springs area.
Today, the Springs Community Alliance is focusing on economic development as well as safety and infrastructure improvements. This group has helped to implement projects such as burying of utility lines, replacement of water mains, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, affordable housing development, commercial property development, roadside beautification, and community events.
In 2003, the Sonoma Valley Redevelopment Advisory Committee (SVRAC) was formed to provide direct community input regarding the expenditures of funds in the Sonoma Valley Redevelopment Area and to make project-funding recommendations to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The most important of these is the Highway 12 Improvement Project, which includes sidewalks, streetlights, and road improvements.
The State of California's elimination of redevelopment in 2012 has put the final phase of the Highway 12 improvement project in jeopardy. The Highway 12 project funding issue was featured recently in an ABC News Video and is being tracked by the Sonoma Index-Tribune (click here for a recent article).
The Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce supports completion of this critical, locally-funded infrastructure project and economic development stimulus. Members of the Springs Community Alliance are collected petition signatures in support of allowing these shovel-ready improvements to be completed; an online version of the petition can be found here.
