Inviting Member Participation in Chamber’s Economic Development

Photo: The Inaugural State of Business Breakfast in June 2019. Read more here.

For more information about the Chamber’s economic development work or to be added to the Economic Development Committee mail list please contact: 
Dani Thompson, Economic Development Specialist
Dani@springfield-chamber.org

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WORK PLAN 2019-2020 

Economic Development is both an overarching goal of the Chamber and simultaneously the work of the Economic Development Committee. The work of the Economic Development Committee is guided by the Chamber Strategic Plan, under the priority to Foster Business Vitality. The strategic plan identifies goals around two key areas of focus: 1. Business Advocacy and 2. Business Resource Hub 2.0. Simultaneously the committee works with other Chamber Committees on broader goals of economic development. 

End Statement: The Chamber is a trusted convener and provider of business resources. We foster collaboration, education, training, and advocacy in support of entrepreneurial endeavors, a healthy business climate, and a high quality of life and place value. We recognize the systemic interdependencies of a healthy economy and provide an ear and a voice for local business at the confluence of government, commerce, and community.

BUSINESS ADVOCACY 

Our Goal and Desired Outcome: We ADVOCATE for BUSINESS by increasing visibility, dialogue, and representation at local, state, and federal policy circles around issues of impact and interest to our members. Members will benefit from grassroots engagement programs, efforts, and representation of their interests at local, state and federal policy; they will understand and connect the value of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts and outcomes to their business.

Policy Agenda:

The Economic Development Council has articulated a set of overarching economic development Positions, a Policy Agenda meant to guide the work and the priorities of the Chamber’s economic development efforts.

Talent & Workforce Development

Education and skills are the keys to both individual prosperity and economic vitality in Springfield. The Chamber supports initiatives that help prepare the 21st century workforce and ensure a pipeline of future talent for the businesses driving the economy forward.

Amenities

The lived experience is a key attractor for a community’s workforce. Recreation, education, nature, shopping, dining, novel experiences and more, all work together to make a place desirable. The Chamber supports efforts to build upon existing assets and encourages the development of new experiences that contribute to our sense of place.

Regulatory Climate

Sustained economic prosperity depends on a vibrant business climate. The Chamber is working to ensure a favorable environment in which regulations are not overly burdensome, where resources and policies support and sustain small business, and where changes to the tax landscape are well reasoned and productive for the business community.

Land Use

Efficient governmental processes, meaningful incentives and reasonable application of state and local land use laws are critical to commercial development and commerce. The Chamber supports efficient and effective development review and efforts to ensure an adequate supply of commercial and industrial land.

Transit

A robust and efficient transportation network is vital to ensuring livable communities, productivity, commerce and a clean environment. The Chamber supports sustainable infrastructure investment, productive and cost effective public transportation options and next generation transportation initiatives.

Infrastructure

The Chamber works to ensure our infrastructure systems not only meet the needs of our community, but are a catalyst for business growth and our region’s long-term economic vitality, from accessible fiber and well repaired roadways to affordable utilities and effective wayfinding.

The Chamber champions a competitive development environment, which includes affordable system development charges (SDCs) assessed by our local public agencies (City of Springfield, Springfield Utility Board, Willamalane Park and Rec).

Innovation

Technological change is consistently shifting the business landscape. The Chamber promotes innovation as a means to improve business and enhance community, educating about relevant topics and advocating to protect business interests.

Housing

A broad diversity of housing options is a fundamental workforce driver, strengthening the ability of employers to grow and a community’s ability to attract new businesses. The Chamber supports efforts to increase the availability of housing, to address the full spectrum of need, throughout its market area.

Advocacy is defined in both representation and partnerships:

A) Representation:

1) The Economic Development Committee Chair will serve as a liaison to Springfield City Council, assuring communication between the City Council on economic development issues.

2) The Economic Development Committee will assign a member to serve on the Chamber’s GIC Business Advisory Council.

3) The Economic Development Council will periodically assign a liaison to an economic development project underway where ongoing input from the business community is vital. Existing examples are: 

City of Springfield Main Street Corridor Safety Project Advisory – Dean Huber appointed 2018-present. 

City of Springfield Development Code Update Technical Advisory – Phillip Farrington appointed 2018-present. 

Springfield Community Development Corporation, Indoor Track Steering Committee – Vonnie Mikkelsen, 2018-present.

B) Economic Development Partnerships:

Economic Development Committee will explore partnerships with other economic development efforts underway. In these cases we may invite representatives of those efforts to present, either to the Council or the full committee to determine if the Economic Development Committee wants to: 1) simply be informed, 2) continue to work with the group on an ongoing basis, 3) weigh in on the topic or take some other initiative. Examples are work of the Chamber Home project; Springfield Renaissance Development Corporation; SUB Economic Development; Regional / Local Innovation Hub projects; High Speed Fiber infrastructure development; LTD projects that impact economic development in Springfield as well as regionally; Better Housing Together; Springfield Downtown business group; Oregon21; Travel Lane County Facilities Committee; others. 

It isn’t feasible for the Economic Development Committee to engage with or weigh in on all economic development efforts under way. The Council will prioritize projects that the Economic Development Committee can commit sufficient volunteer resources to ensure desired outcomes. 

Business Resource Hub 2.0:

Our Goal and Desired Outcome: We FOSTER BUSINESS VITALITY by creating and curating a full-featured and accessible suite of business resource offerings, including but not limited to education, consultation, connection and navigation of all these components. Member and community businesses will feel confident that, as needs arise, a robust network of resources will be available to help; and will recognize the Springfield Chamber as the primary contact for delivery of, and connection to, these resources.

The Economic Development Council and/or Committee members’ role:

• Periodically advises Chamber staff on various issues related to economic development including where business leaders are finding reliable resources to advance their business goals, or on issues that might benefit from collective economic development resource partnerships and problem-solving;

• Work with Chamber staff on issues such as developing a brand for the Business Resource function;

• Work with Chamber staff to identify partners in business resource development;

• Inform and Guide the Annual mid-year, State of the Chamber/Business Breakfast;

• Identify metrics to measure Business Resource Hub success and a dashboard to track these metrics; 

• Create Competitive Business Climate Dashboard to measure and track area economic development, and guide the work of the Economic Development Committee.