Tehachapi Chamber credits volunteers after busy 2025; lists ribbon cuttings, membership gains and early 2026 events

Claire Scottie, a representative of the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, told Tehachapod listeners that the Chamber closed 2025 with a string of events and expanded outreach, and she credited volunteers for the work.

"We had 60 registrants. 55 people were able to come with their floats and their groups," Scottie said, summarizing the Chamber’s role in this year’s Christmas parade and Gingerbread Lane. City staff, she said, reported downtown attendance at roughly 5,000 people — and Chamber organizers said the turnout felt larger than the prior year.

The Chamber highlighted several measures of local activity in 2025: roughly 25 ribbon cuttings and community celebrations, 53 new Chamber members, approximately 180 published member-feature articles, social-media growth from under 3,000 to more than 5,000 followers, and about 1,800 referrals tracked from in‑person visitors and phone calls.

Scottie said volunteers and coordinated partners made the parade and Hometown Christmas possible. She singled out "Dean Peterson" as the parade organizer and noted many volunteers were trained through CERT to help with traffic and route safety.

The Chamber also named contest and parade winners and celebrated the civic collaboration behind the downtown holiday features. Among those singled out: Terrigen Operating Company (overall parade winner), Love’s Travel Stop (commercial float class), Tehachapi Warrior Band (marching band class) and other local groups and school clubs that placed across categories.

Looking ahead, the Chamber announced several early-2026 events and opportunities for businesses: a Goodwill grand-opening ribbon cutting on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.; a community luncheon Jan. 20 at American Legion Post 221; and forthcoming legislative days where residents can meet representatives for Congressman Fong and Kern County Supervisor Chris Parlier. Scottie encouraged members and residents to complete the Chamber’s survey to help finalize the 2026 strategic plan and to contact chamber@hatchbee.com for more information.

The Chamber framed its work as both community building and local economic support: organizers said downtown attractions and seasonal programming aim to send more visitors to mom‑and‑pop shops during a traditionally slow retail quarter.

The Chamber’s calendar and membership information are posted on hatchbee.com and through the Chamber’s social channels.