Chamber: Chamber, business leaders delve into strategic planning

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Ann Elwell is communications manager with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.|ret||ret||tab|

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For most business owners and managers, precious time must be devoted to evaluating the balance sheet and developing new ways to improve the bottom line.|ret||ret||tab|

There's usually no extra time in the day to think "big picture."|ret||ret||tab|

Enter the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.|ret||ret||tab|

As a regional business advocate, the chamber and its many volunteers devote time and resources to improving the business climate, assisting new and existing businesses, and exploring new ways to improve the quality of life here in southwest Missouri.|ret||ret||tab|

Each year, the chamber's board of directors develops a set of priority issues that direct the chamber's work. Later this month, this group of 30-plus business and professional leaders will spend a day and a half at a retreat, paid mostly by their own businesses, to hash out the strategic issues affecting the Springfield area for 2003.|ret||ret||tab|

For the current year, the chamber has focused on four issues: economic development, public education, regional development and work-force development.|ret||ret||tab|

The first priority, economic development, is an over-arching one, since that's really what the chamber is all about. This year we launched the Partnership for Prosperity, an initiative to raise $1.5 million over five years, all with the express intent of improving Springfield and the surrounding region's economic base. |ret||ret||tab|

Businesses of all sizes institutions like Southwest Missouri State University and CoxHealth, professional organizations like law firms and certified public accountants all caught the excitement. All indications show the fund initiative will be a success as it heads to its December goal.|ret||ret||tab|

Among the proposals to be funded by the Partnership for Prosperity is one connecting health care and higher education, two giant engines fueling Springfield's economy. A blue ribbon task force comprised of the leaders of our hospitals, colleges and universities studied the issue last year. Its recommendations include the concept of matching college curriculum with the needs of health care institutions in an effort to keep the best and brightest in Springfield following graduation.|ret||ret||tab|

The priority of public education is based on the belief that "education is everybody's business." Strong schools produce a strong labor force. Strong schools also greatly impact the quality of life. The chamber promotes the involvement of businesses in the public school system, through partnerships with individual schools, service on school task forces, and hosting of teacher externs, who can catch a glimpse of what a typical business environment is like, then take that experience back to in the classroom.|ret||ret||tab|

Perhaps the chamber's most visible role in public education is its involvement in the Springfield R-12 Board of Education election process. An education task force, has developed a thorough screening and interview process for candidates for school board. From this process, candidates are endorsed and chamber members are encouraged to help elect these people.|ret||ret||tab|

The third priority for 2002 is regional development. The chamber's Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership has made great strides in its three years of existence. City and county governments, and chambers of commerce from 10 southwest Missouri counties are working together to solve common problems and, more importantly, to develop new ways to improve the region's entire economy. |ret||ret||tab|

The chamber is bringing these leaders together in formal sessions twice a year and more informally through shared projects, telephone calls and newsletters. On Oct. 30, the partnership will hold its fall summit at Sheila's Place, a Marshfield restaurant. The theme is "Looking to the Future."|ret||ret||tab|

The fourth priority, work-force development, is cited by business leaders as their biggest challenge. Finding and keeping quality laborers, and training those employees for new trends in business are among the difficulties businesses face.|ret||ret||tab|

The Regional Partnership, through two grants from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, conducted surveys of employers and employees. The results showed agreement in several areas, most notably that both groups believe "underemployment" is an issue. That is, our region has a large number of employees who work in positions that do not fully utilize their skills and education. The solution is complex, but most agree that continuing education and professional training are essential. |ret||ret||tab|

The chamber, with its 2,100 members, sees its role as providing leadership for the Springfield region's business community. While individual businesses must concentrate on one slice of the economic pie, the chamber looks to the whole. |ret||ret||tab|

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