SAFFORD — During the most recent Safford City Council meeting, the Graham County Chamber of Commerce conducted a review of activity over the previous 12 months.
Touching on the Gila Valley Leadership program, tourism efforts and business support, Chamber Executive Director Vance Bryce explained what the organization does with funding received from Safford transient occupancy (hotel bed) tax.
The Chamber receives $160,000 annually from Safford’s bed tax, which Bryce said is the equivalent of the base cost for two events the Chamber stages in Safford — SalsaFest ($40,000) and Spring Festival ($30,000) — as well as operation of the Visitor and Community Center ($90,000).
He said the Chamber is working with the Graham Economic Partnership on a new initiative to both attract visitors and new businesses to the Gila Valley.
“We’re going to have a 400-page website, (and) there’s going to be data involved in what we’re doing, so we can measure whether it’s successful or not,” Bryce said.
For 2026, Bryce said the Chamber will overhaul its cash-flow procedures, conduct training and implement its new tourism software, roll-out the new website in partnership with Graham Economic Partnership, begin renovation of the Visitor Center, and be a partner in the countywide celebration of America’s sesquicentennial on July 4.
“We leverage your $160,000 as a foundation of our funding, to bring in $250,000 more dollars — that’s real dollars,” Bryce said. “For every $1 the city contracts with the Chamber, we bring $1.56.”
In addition to America’s 250th birthday, 2026 is the 100th anniversary of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Graham County Fair.
