San Rafael lauds business owners at ‘State of the City’
Marin Independent Journal
Our new members and sponsors, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc, receiving the Large Business of the Year award at San Rafael’s “State of the City” event.
By Keri Brenner
A homegrown San Rafael grocer took his 15 minutes of fame to steal the show at the “State of the City” dinner and awards ceremony this week at Peacock Gap Clubhouse in San Rafael.
Andy Bachich, earlier named “Citizen of the Year” in San Rafael, on Thursday delivered a passionate call for action to support local businesses before about 420 attendees at the annual San Rafael Chamber of Commerce event.
“It’s the toughest time now for small businesses,” said Bachich, who thanked city, state and Marin County officials for supporting him in building a successful string of markets and cafes in the area. “I really feel local businesses are the soul of the town — the big guys come and go, but the small businesses are the ones who stay.”
Bachich added that it was “so appropriate” that he was being honored at Peacock Gap.
“I had my first job here washing dishes when I was 14 years old,” said Bachich, 56, who grew up in San Rafael and who has, as an adult, raised thousands of dollars to help local schools.
Bachich, who also received commendations on stage from state Assemblyman Marc Levine, Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly, state Sen. Mike McGuire and U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, was one of a short list of local business owners and companies in San Rafael tapped for major awards.
Other winners announced Thursday were:
- Large Business of the Year: BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., a biotech company that develops treatments for ultra-rare genetic disorders primarily affecting children.
- Small Business of the Year: Eckhoff and Co., a tax and accounting services and consulting firm that is active in numerous community events and sponsorships.
- Joe Garbarino Small Green Business of the Year: VenturePad, a co-working space, meeting space and entrepreneurship center in downtown San Rafael.
- Joe Garbarino Large Green Business of the Year: Guide Dogs for the Blind, a nonprofit that creates partnerships between humans and dogs.
“It is amazing to look around and see all the talented people here tonight,” San Rafael Chamber of Commerce board Chairman Beau Blanchard said in his opening remarks. “We are recognizing a selection of specific individuals and businesses this evening, but the real stars tonight are you, the chamber members and supporters.”
Blanchard, a California Film Institute executive, said chamber membership is growing, now including “more than 600 employers representing over 26,000 employees from more than 25 industry sectors.”
San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips in his “State of the City” address commended first responders and the entire Marin community for staying strong during last October’s North Bay wildfires.
“Marin opened its arms, taking hundreds of evacuees from the North Bay fires and the generous volunteer efforts and donations from all of you went a long way in helping our neighbors in Sonoma and Napa — many of whom lost everything,” Phillips said. “These events remind us how important our community is — and I’m grateful for San Rafael’s incredible community fabric, remarkable schools and strong institutions.”
Phillips also praised the progress of new projects such as the SMART train and ongoing construction on two new fire stations and a new public safety building in downtown San Rafael.
“To date, SMART has carried nearly half a million riders,” Phillips said. “And San Rafael is its most significant destination, with 50 percent of the ridership bound for our downtown, and 10 percent for the Civic Center station. So, more than half of the SMART passengers are destined for our city.”
State and national officials who represent San Rafael and Marin said they were impressed with Thursday’s turnout.
“San Rafael has one of the strongest chambers in California,” said McGuire, looking around the packed banquet hall. “The San Rafael community believes in small businesses and they came out in droves.”
Bachich, meanwhile, said the entire community needs to join together to keep the forward momentum going to help local businesses.
“I’m not saying ‘Let’s make San Rafael great again,’” he quipped, in a reference to the national political scene. “I’m saying, let’s continue to make things great — and, in my opinion, the whole city needs to be involved.”
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