UPDATE: Board Chair Says Chamber's Partnership with One Redmond Will Benefit Both Groups

The Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce plans to join forces with One Redmond, a new initiative that is forming to bring together the city's various economic stakeholders.

Members of the chamber's board of trustees voted unanimously in support of the partnership at their annual retreat, according to a Monday announcement from the chamber.

Board Chairman Tom Martin, who also serves as a senior vice president at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, says the partnership will allow the city's various economic stakeholders to strengthen their efforts by working on a collective vision for Redmond's future. Fundraising campaigns, for example, are better handled by one group so they don't become duplicative and leave business owners feeling "nickled and dimed," Martin said.

“(With the partnership) you gain the economies of scale, potentially," he said. "You also gain a unity of message and a unity of fundraising.”

Much of the specifics of the partnership have yet to be determined, Martin said. At this point it's still unclear whether or not the chamber will retain its own name, but Martin stressed that the group will continue to offer the same level of support to local businesses.

“What will happen over time is committees will change or staffing will change. The leadership could change, but most of the functions will continue to exist,” he said. “We see value in the chamber brand, we're just not certain how it will show up in the actual name.”

Financial details, such as whether membership dues will be managed by One Redmond or stay within the chamber, are also still pending, Martin said.

Aside from the desire to promote a consistent economic development message, Martin said the chamber decided to partner with One Redmond because of its own declining membership, which dropped from 550 to a current level of 450. Martin said he thinks One Redmond will be especially helpful at drawing in medium and large businesses.

“We’ve been struggling with our own relevance. We think that this a way for us to change the game and attract people that are currently not chamber members,” he said.

One Redmond, meanwhile, is still in the formation stages. Jeni Craswell, who currently heads another economic development group called Realize Redmond, is spearheading the effort, and Martin said the umbrella organization will include both private members and public officials from the City of Redmond. ( to read more about Craswell and Realize Redmond in an earlier Redmond Patch story.)

Martin said the chamber aims to begin fundraising with One Redmond in early 2012.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 to include comments from Tom Martin, chairman of the chamber's board of trustees. Redmond Patch is a member of the Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce.