GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt Chamber of Commerce held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Tuesday for its new office on C Street while also announcing its new business incubator program, a major milestone for the organization.   

The incubator program is the brainchild of Community Relations Director Kat Seabolt, who said the idea is to provide smaller businesses and startups a location to help grow their brand and clientele while keeping a lower overhead. 

Seabolt said when she presented the idea to the Chamber board, “everyone was onboard.” 

“Our goal is by having them here we can help connect them with resources, get them more plugged in with the business community here and also give them the opportunity where they don’t have the overhead of having their own building,” Seabolt said. “They can build up their clientele, build up their brand, and that way when they are ready to spread their wings into the community, they will have had that head start.”

The event was attended by around 50 of the local Galt business and government community, including  Mayor Shawn Farmer and Vice Mayor Paul Sandhu, as well as Council Member Bonnie Rodriguez.  

The freshly renovated location at 417 C St. includes five smaller offices for small businesses to rent, four at between $550 and $650 a month, and a fifth at between $650 and $750 a month depending on the lease terms. 

The space also has bathrooms for guests and workers, as well as a waiting room and copy and print station. 

“We wanted a space where the business community can come together, hold mixers and create that synergy with some of our legends that have been in business for 10-plus years with some of our newcomers.”

The building previously held the Associated Family Physicians medical clinic and had sat empty for close to a year. Seabolt said she had toured the building with other business owners with interest in the space before the Chamber opted to make use of it. 

“Every time I came I just kept having this feeling of this is where we should be and what we should do with having those extra spaces and being able to help those other businesses.” Seabolt said. 

Seabolt described the new office as a calculated move – the chamber was previously housed in a smaller office on Fourth Street – one that puts the organization in the “heart of Old Town.” 

It’s a good time for the Chamber to move. City officials have discussed ideas to help revitalize Old Town, with an attention to attracting more businesses and events to the important corridor. 

Farmer said he thinks the space is a great location for the Chamber and was interested to see what comes out of the organization’s new business incubator idea. 

“Galt doesn’t have stuff like that,” Farmer said. “People are always asking, ‘Do you know someone who is renting a small office or an office inside a building’… there are a couple of Victorians where people are renting offices, but there is always a waiting list.” 

“It’s something that Galt could really use, so I can imagine it’s going to fill up quick,” he added.  

Seabolt said the Chamber has already received some interest in the incubator offices and  has also started to meet with local nonprofits to band together and work on some community events. 

Farmer said he sees the move as another indicator that the Chamber is returning to a place of prominence in Galt. He said the Chamber’s influence in the city has waned over time, but he has watched in recent years as the Chamber moved in a more upward trajectory. 

“I think we are on an upswing in a big way,” Farmer said. “I think that the Chamber has done a phenomenal job over the past few years getting to where we are.” 

He said the City Council is in full support of the path that Seabolt and the board are charting for the Chamber. 

“We think the Chamber is important and I’m glad that as a city official I can embrace that relationship and help them,” Farmer said. “I hope that they keep doing great things.” 

Aaron Jones, field representative for Rep. Doris Matsui, attended the opening and said the congresswoman is excited for what the new Chamber office and incubator approach means for Galt business both locally and regionally. 

“Good results require collaboration across business communities, across governmental officials, across nonprofits, and that is what we have here today, an actual place for that to happen; we are really excited for what this means for Galt,” Jones said. 

Bret Bartholomew, a director with the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, also attended and said he’s impressed with what the Galt Chamber can do with such a small staff. According to its website, Seabolt is joined by administrative assistant Bella Castro and events assistant Andelyn Buys. 

Bartholomew said he has known Seabolt for a few years now. He said after meeting her he pinpointed her as an engaged and down-to-earth person with aspirational ideas for the Galt Chamber.

“With what Galt Chamber is doing with the incubator setup, the five different offices that are available, what a great opportunity for small businesses who don’t have a location and want to work together,” Bartholomew said. 

“What an amazing opportunity for them that just makes so much sense.” 

Bartholomew said he would like to see more collaboration between businesses in Galt and Elk Grove. 

“Elk Grove is only a stone’s throw away,” Bartholomew said. “The 99 Corridor should be working together.”