Growing community explores chamber of commerce of creation

Officials in the city of Battlefield hope that a chamber of commerce will boost business activity so that it will keep pace with residential development in the community. According to city records, 225 residential building permits were filed in Battlefield in 2004 and 38 have been filed so far this year.
The Battlefield Economic Development Commission, a committee of the Battlefield Board of Aldermen, is working to increase business growth. Members are looking at various ways to promote their city, including putting up signs that welcome visitors to town and creating brochures for new or prospective residents and businesses. The commission decided a few months ago
that the city should have a chamber of commerce, said Marlene Feisthamel, a Battlefield dentist and a member of the commission.
The Economic Development Commis-sion held an organizational planning meeting in February for the proposed Battlefield Chamber of Commerce. More than 20 interested business owners attended the meeting.
An interim chamber of commerce board was established with Feisthamel as president, Gene Blakey as secretary and Michel Green as treasurer.
Papers are being filed with the secretary of state for incorporation, Feisthamel said, and once that’s done, the group will begin soliciting members and board members will be elected. She hopes the chamber will be up and running in three to six months.
Steve McGuire, owner of McGuire Design Group in Battlefield, is excited about the creation of a Chamber of Commerce in his town and plans to join when it’s ready to accept members. “I feel real good about it. I think Battlefield’s really growing. For a small business, a chamber’s a really good thing. It provides networking opportunities,” he said.
Feisthamel said that the chamber will work to attract new businesses and residents, and will provide a voice for the more than 90 businesses – including several home-based businesses – that already are located in Battlefield.
“Mainly, it provides an avenue for the business community to have a collective voice,” she said. “It’s a way for us to enhance the business community, invite new businesses in, welcome new businesses and residents, and do some things to help the community – community service and maybe sponsor a festival.”
McGuire has been in Battlefield for about nine years, and during that time, he’s already seen quite a bit of growth. He thinks that a Battlefield Chamber of Commerce will add to that growth.
“I think growth will be quite dynamic,” he said. “There’s a tremendous amount of building out here.”
Feisthamel said that Battlefield has a lot to offer to prospective business owners, including plentiful traffic on FF Highway. Also, she said, Battlefield is a small community, but it’s close to Springfield and the services it offers.