By Lindsay Peyton

The time is right for a comeback for the White Center Chamber of Commerce.

“We are rebooting it,” the group’s new president Sheryl Clinton said.

She started her business Miss Sheryl's Ballet, 965016th Ave SW, last year. “It didn't take long after opening my storefront to realize there are some major concerns that need to be dealt with in White Center, but there is also huge potential,” she said.

Clinton contacted the Chamber of Commerce and said she was disappointed to learn that the group was no longer in operation.

She spoke to Aaron Garcia with the White Center Community Development Association and Tommy Martin of Tommy Sound and the three decided to band together to rebuild the Chamber.

Martin is now vice-president and Garcia is treasurer.

Their first order of business was to conduct a survey, reaching out to other local entrepreneurs in an effort to determine what the group’s top priorities should be.

The results from the White Center business owner survey were conclusive, Clinton said. “The number one issue was garbage,” she said. She explained that the trashcans on 16th Ave are often not emptied. King County offers pick-up periodically.

Clinton said there’s a need for more consistent service.

The chamber will hire a company in March, April and May to start picking up the garbage from the trashcans on the main roads.

In the future, business owners can elect to band together to continue contracting a company or they could each “adopt” a trashcan and be in charge of pick-up.

Next on the list of survey participants’ concerns was increased police presence in White Center. Third on the survey was the lack of lighting on 16th Ave.

In addition to addressing concerns raised on the survey, the Chamber will work on beautification projects. For example, the group is helping to create an “art alley,” a new area for outdoor murals. Artists wanting to participate are already signing up, Clinton said.

The Chamber is also considering starting a local farmer’s market, a Halloween event and a “Touch-a-Truck” day, where children can have a hands-on experience with fire trucks and other working vehicles.

“We’re just trying to get people to White Center,” Clinton said. “We’re trying to spread the word.”

The White Center Chamber of Commerce is already drawing interest. An open house for the Chamber, held at Clinton’s ballet school on Wednesday, Feb. 21, brought in a large crowd of residents and business owners.

Michale Adams-Farrar, who co-owns the Lumber Yard Bar with his partner Nathan, attended and joined the Chamber.

“I’ve been wanting this to happen,” he said. “This community is ripe to make the changes that are necessary.”

Membership to the White Center Chamber of Commerce is free for now.