SEMINOLE – The Seminole Chamber of Commerce is continuing its efforts to upgrade and reinvent itself.
After launching a redesign of its Web site earlier this year, the chamber voted Sept. 16 to change its bylaws, allowing the creation of an economic development arm.
At its most recent meeting, the Chamber board of directors gave the thumbs-up to a proposal to create a permanent committee and advisory council for economic development issues.
“The Chamber views supporting members with information and general advice when trying to operate a business as one of its primary functions,” Chamber president Paul Ziegler said. “The economic development committee will be the vehicle through which the chamber will deliver programs and events related to economic development.”
He said a proposed slate of projects will be presented to the Chamber board and advisory committee before the end of the year.
Before the addition of the economic development committee, the Chamber had two committees – for membership and ambassadors.
Ziegler said the move is designed to, among other things, create new revenue streams for the organization and put less emphasis on conventional fundraising means, such as the chamber’s annual golf tournament.
He said the new committee would consist of 10 to 12 volunteers who would work closely with chamber leaders.
“The main ingredient (for volunteers) is to work on it and put some time in on it,” he said. “We’ll have minimum monthly meetings and then more at other times of the year.”
Ziegler said the advisory council, which will be called the Seminole Area Economic Development Advisory Council, would consist of the current advisory council for the chamber’s Business Assistance Program.
One of the new committee’s primary roles will be to invent new ways to raise money. The need is especially apparent following the recent announcement by Pinellas County that it is discontinuing funding of the Business Assistance Program.
The Seminole chamber currently depends on about $22,000 a year from the county and $18,000 from the city of Seminole to fund the program, Ziegler said.
He said about 90 percent of the funds go toward funding the position of business assistance specialist, which is held by Gretchen Wells.
In a related move, the chamber announced plans for a new project.
The inaugural Sustainable Solutions Conference and Expo for Business and Government is tentatively set for next fall at the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College and will be organized by the economic development committee with SPC and the city of Seminole.
The event is being billed as an energy conference for contractors, manufacturers and government leaders. It is tentatively projected to last three days.
“We see this as a possible replacement for the golf tournament,” said Ziegler. “It’s not that the golf tournament is a bad idea but we need sponsorships each year to support it. That means our own local businesses must support it. Is this the best way to do business? We think this (energy conference) is better because we would be getting money from outside the area and bringing revenue into Seminole. Plus, they (conference attendees) could be staying overnight, which would help the local economy.”
Ziegler said the chamber would make between $10,000 to $20,000 from the conference. It makes about $10,000 from the golf tournament.
