Kalama Chamber of Commerce can now purchase advertising to help local businesses, thanks to $8,500 in tourism promotion money it received from Kalama City Council last week.

The Chamber approached the council on Wednesday for $6,300 to purchase radio advertisements and brochures to put in hotels around the Bellingham area to attract visitors attending the Winter Olympics this February in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The additional money awarded to the chamber will be used for advertising in the Cowlitz County “Awesome” brochure, which promotes Mount St. Helens and other tourist attractions. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the blast.

“Kalama historically has not been represented in that piece,” said Chamber President Vic Leatzow. This year, the chamber wants to partner with the Port of Kalama to create and entire “Kalama page” in that brochure, he added.

Kalama has lost 12 businesses this year due to the poor economy and fires. The chamber wants to start cooperative advertising opportunities to help save more businesses from going under.

The city’s contribution comes from hotel/motel taxes and can only be used on tourism-related projects.