Area chambers of commerce stress economic development

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce launched a $1.5 million fundraising drive in late June to finance its new Partnership for Prosperity program. The partnership will provide a series of economic development programs that will help expand existing local industries and attract new businesses to the area.

Stimulating economic development is just part of the job of area chambers of commerce. The services provided by each chamber reflect the needs of its members as well as the community it serves.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, must provide a wide variety of services to meet the diverse needs of its 2,140 members. Although the chamber counts many large companies as members, it also must meet the needs of many small-business owners.

"More than 88 percent of area employers have 20 or fewer employees," said Ann Ellwell, communications manager. "No single business or industry dominates Springfield. I think that diversity is reflected in our membership."

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce provides networking opportunities, professional development services and business referrals.

The chamber also works to strengthen business by supporting the community. The chamber supports Springfield's public school system. The chamber's commitment to education also extends to the work force, and the chamber recently began looking into hiring a work-force development specialist.

The chamber also works to stimulate economic development in Springfield and the surrounding region through the Springfield Business and Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership, which serves a 10-county area and is done in association with Associated Electric Cooperative. The chamber's latest endeavor, Partnership for Prosperity, also is designed to stimulate economic growth in the region.

"This program will help Springfield compete against bigger cities such as Little Rock, Ark., and Mobile, Ala., when it comes to attracting new businesses to the area," said Greg Williams, vice president of economic development. "A few years ago we were competing against cities like Joplin."

Bolivar

Economic development also is a priority for the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce which has 186 members. The Bolivar Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the city of Bolivar and Polk County earlier this year and hired Tiffany Coleman-Dunn as Polk County's economic development officer.

According to Diana Leslie, executive director, the chamber of commerce is working with Coleman-Dunn to encourage more companies to come to Bolivar, a community of approximately 9,200 people. The chamber also recently began a marketing program called "Shop Bolivar" to promote local businesses.

The Bolivar Chamber of Commerce offers its members many benefits including a monthly newsletter, networking opportunities and the opportunity for companies to market their services and products to newcomers in the area through "Welcome to Bolivar" baskets distributed by the chamber. The chamber also provides referrals to member-businesses.

"We recommend a lot of businesses to college students, parents of college students and people in the community," said Leslie. "In the four years I've been here, I've never had a complaint about a chamber member. I think that says something. The members that see the value of the chamber are the ones that operate ethically."

In addition to stimulating economic development in the area and providing services to member businesses, the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce distributes information to tourists about things to see and do in the area, as well as brochures listing chamber members.

Marshfield

The Marshfield Chamber of Commerce also is working to keep pace with the rapid economic development that has taken place in this town of 5,720 people. Between 1990 and 2000, the town's population increased by more than 30 percent, and the number of businesses in Marshfield increased substantially, according to Rosalie Emrick, executive secretary of the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce.

Emrick, who is the chamber's only paid employee, is aided by a 12-member board of directors and more than 30 volunteers who do everything from passing out tourist information to organizing community events.

"If it weren't for the volunteers, we'd really have a difficult time," said Emrick. "We get about 3,000 phone calls every year. A lot of tourists and members of the community also stop in here. In 2000, about 8,200 people stopped by the chamber of commerce."

The Marshfield Chamber of Commerce provides a variety of services to its 185 members. The chamber hosts ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses, provides networking opportunities and referrals to member businesses, distributes relocation packets and publishes a quarterly newsletter. The chamber also provides demographic data to member businesses and companies that are considering relocating to the area.

According to Emrick, one of the chamber's long-term goals is to improve its facility. The Marshfield Chamber of Commerce curently is located just off Interstate 44.

"We have a great location, but the building is old," said Emrick. "In the future, we'll be looking to improve the present location or we'll review other options."

In the meantime, Emrick said the chamber will continue to serve its members and sponsor events that help bring new people to the area and bolster area businesses.