Goleta Chamber Launches Masks4Biz Program

Goleta Chamber of Commerce Ambassador delivering masks to Nikka Ramen restaurant in Goleta.

Source: Goleta Chamber of Commerce

The Goleta Chamber of Commerce partnered with local companies and the City of Goleta to launch Masks4Biz and provide the frontline staff of Goleta businesses with standard paper masks.  The Chamber recognizes the importance of these essential workers, who interact with the public daily to keep local grocery stores, restaurants, banks, gas stations, hardware stores, and more operational. With this community initiative, the Chamber hopes to support the health of essential workers, flatten the curve, and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The goal of Masks4Biz is to gift Goleta businesses with their first round of masks in recognition of their community dedication, and offer to help procure additional masks if needed.

“The Chamber and community are so grateful for our essential workers who are helping to keep our grocery stores and restaurants running,” said Kristen Miller, President & CEO of the Goleta Chamber of Commerce. “We want to offer this extra layer of protection by distributing masks to our area businesses.”

The Chamber has sourced masks from a vendor that does not compete with masks within the medical supply chain. In the next week, the Chamber team will distribute 20,000 masks with the goal of providing workers with enough masks to cover their face for 2-3 weeks.  Each mask can be worn twice by an employee. 

To enact this initiative, many local organizations and businesses offered support, including American Riviera Bank, Apeel Sciences, City of Goleta, Community West Bank, Deckers Brands, Kathy Odell – WEV, LogMeIn, Montecito Bank and Trust, Transphorm and Village Properties. The impact of this support was felt immediately. “We’ve been working toward re-opening with limited service, and one of our challenges was where to get masks,” said Lisa Boelter, co-owner of Anna’s Bakery. “We were so relieved when the Goleta Chamber emailed us the offer to help.  Now we can resume our place in the heart of the community, at least in a small way.”

MASKS4Biz is one small way the Goleta Chamber is responding to the pandemic and economic crisis in Goleta.  For more information on this and other programs see the Chamber’s COVID-19 Business Resource page on their website. (https://goletachamber.com/community/covid-19-info/)