[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING FLORENCE-FIRESTONE/WALNUT PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S 
                       SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park Chamber of Commerce (FFWPCC) on its 
seventy-fifth anniversary. Ever since its incorporation in 1939, the 
Chamber has provided a forum for local merchants, business and property 
owners, professionals, residents, lenders, and teachers to work 
together in making the Florence-Firestone community a better place to 
do business. Since 2006, the Chamber has served the Walnut Park 
business community as well.
  The Chamber was severely shaken by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, but it 
was kept afloat by Community Development Commission (CDC) funding 
secured by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who was then the Supervisor for Los 
Angeles County's Second District. This CDC funding has continued under 
current Second District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. The Chamber has 
also benefited from funding under a partnership with the County's First 
District and its Supervisor, Gloria Molina.
  At present, the Chamber gets funding from the Community Development 
Block Grant program. With this funding, the Chamber supports business 
development through technical assistance, workshops, seminars, and 
individual consultations.
  The Chamber also uses its community newsletter to spread word about 
business assistance programs, and to advocate on behalf of the 
businesses in the Florence-Firestone and Walnut Park Region. Florence-
Firestone and Walnut Park are two of the local communities that have 
faced the most challenges during the recent recession, with 
unemployment rates exceeding 20 percent. The FFWPCC has aggressively 
confronted these challenges by seeking and identifying opportunities to 
enable the creation of new employment opportunities.
  To this day, the FFWPCC serves its members by promoting their 
businesses' products and services and by protecting their interests at 
all levels of government. This was particularly evident in the 
Chamber's recent collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisors and 
business and property owners to beautify the streetscapes in the 
business corridor linking the Florence-Firestone area to Walnut Park. 
The streetscape improvements have made the shopping community much more 
inviting, and have helped community members and visitors take pride in 
their walkable and sustainable community.
  After this streetscape project was finished last year, the Chamber 
continued to tackle new challenges. It is now working on another 
beautification project in Walnut Park, with the help of Los Angeles 
County Supervisors. The Chamber has also brought new business 
opportunities to Walnut Park by organizing an annual Summer Fest in the 
community. Last year's event attracted over 50,000 people, and this 
year's attendance is expected to be even higher.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of its seventy-five years of faithful and 
diligent support of local businesses, I ask my colleagues to please 
join me in recognizing the Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park Chamber of 
Commerce for making Florence-Firestone and Walnut Park better places to 
work and live, and in wishing the Chamber many more years of success.

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