Countrywide chamber to launch in 2008 (11/21/07)

It's been a long time coming, but it looks as if a countywide chamber of commerce is heading Jay County's way in 2008.

"We're all working together," said community developer Ami Huffman. "I think we're in very good shape."

Huffman was given the charge of shepherding a countywide chamber to fruition by the late Bob Quadrozzi, then executive director of Jay County Development Corporation.

"It started from the study Ball State did with economic development," said Huffman. That study concluded the county could be more effective with a coordinated effort rather than through individual chambers.

The Portland Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest in the county and the only one with paid staff. The Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce has about 30 members from the Dunkirk community and a number of members who are based in Portland. The Redkey Chamber of Commerce has been intermittently active over the years but has also gone through dormant periods. Pennville, Bryant, and Salamonia have no chambers of commerce, and rural businesses are sometimes left unserved.

Combining all those entities into a single, more efficient organization had been talked about. But earlier efforts at founding a countywide chamber had stumbled.

"There had been a lot of dialogue about it for a number of years," said Portland chamber executive director Vicki Tague. "Most of the dialogue had been between Dunkirk and Portland."

Huffman's approach was to turn to Ball State University for help.

In the spring of 2006, a student team working under the direction of Dr. Jeff Hornsby, George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Management, researched similar counties in the Midwest to seek what had worked elsewhere.

Hornsby also played a key role in helping the various parties sort out their interests and areas of concern.

"Sometimes it's easier if someone from outside the county is there to help," said Huffman. "We had to work through a lot of issues."

Dunkirk chamber president John Faulkner agrees. "It's had its ups and downs, but slowly people are understanding the importance and the benefits of being a countywide chamber," he said.

When the idea was first broached to Dunkirk chamber members, it was received coolly. "There was a fear we would lose our local identity," he said.

But through long hours of discussion and numerous focus groups, barriers were broken down and new levels of understanding were reached.

"We needed to get comfortable with each other," said Huffman.

"People saw it's not a matter of Portland wanting to control us," said Faulkner. "There's not a control issue."

Key factors in the discussion were governance, finance, and how to preserve each community's individual identity.

Governance was an issue because no community wanted to lose a sense of local control. Finance was an issue because the Portland chamber had far greater financial resources than the others.

"There were some issues about the make-up of the board, and those were worked through," said Faulkner.

"I'm sure there was some heartburn," said Tague, "but by the end of the process, this was a group that really bonded."

As plans for a countywide chamber began to take shape, the idea won support from the memberships of the existing chambers. "Working in this process, I think they (chamber members) have seen a great level of cooperation among the communities," said Faulkner.

Tague said the transition process is still very much up in the air, particularly the legal movement from three chambers to one.

Four implementation committees are at work now to nail down the details. One will focus on legal issues. One will deal with human resources, drawing up job descriptions for chamber staff. One is working on finances and the budget. And the fourth is working on coordinating and promoting community events.

The new entity should be in place "as quickly in '08 as we can make it happen," said Tague.

"I can see nothing but positive out of it," said Faulkner.

Serving as the initial directors for the countywide chamber will be Scott Bollenbacher, Cindy Denney, Randy Young, Norm Vinson, John Faulkner, Mike Engels, Wood Barwick, Christy Corle, Annette Alexander, Dean Inman, Cindy Adair, Kyle Cook, Marla Coleman, Mark Goldman, Faron Parr, Andy Harris, and Dru Hall. There will also be honorary board positions for representatives of local government in Salamonia, Pennville, Bryant, Redkey, Dunkirk, and Portland as wells as the county council, county commissioners, the community developer, and Jay County Development Corporation.

Huffman said the key to success has been the approach taken during the months-long process.

"We made sure it was done with everybody and not to anybody," she said.[[In-content Ad]]