T. Falls Chamber expands to county

The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce is rebranding to include all of Sanders County.

Dennis Spurlock, the chamber president, has reported that the organization is now the Sanders County Chamber of Commerce. “We have the name change processed with the state. We are now Sanders County Chamber of Commerce Inc.,” Spurlock said. “We wanted to be more inclusive for the county since we’re all small rural towns. We can better support all our communities as a county chamber.”

Spurlock, an insurance agent with Alera Group in Plains, said the chamber will be holding more events throughout the county. While Christmas on Main Street in Thompson Falls is one of the group’s major annual events, Spurlock said they are looking to expand that to help with the Christmas lights at the Sanders County fairgrounds and hold a special tree lighting event there as well.

“Hopefully as we get input from business owners and learn their needs, we can support their ideas and help businesses attract more business to our county,” Spurlock explained. The chamber currently has about 100 members, and is looking to add members from across the county.

The Sanders County Chamber is also holding a contest for a new logo. Design ideas must be submitted to the chamber by August 28. The winning designer will be awarded $250 plus free chamber membership for a year. According to Spurlock, the design must include the words “Sanders County Chamber of Commerce” and have local wildlife such as fish, elk, deer, bear, bighorn sheep, wolves, mountain lions or turkey. The design also must feature the river and trees, as well as the word “Montana.” Designs can be submitted via email to [email protected].

The first meeting of the rebranded organization will be 9 a.m. Friday, August 30, at the Butcher’s Nook in Plains. Meetings are held the last Friday of the month, and the chamber also hosts quarterly events. In August, an after hours event will be held at Harlow Ranch Bison Company in Thompson Falls. The meeting, at 5:30 p.m.on Thursday, August 29, with a presentation about the bison ranch. Ledger Marketing Director Marshall Barker also will speak about the Sanders County 365 community calendar website.