Chamber Issues

The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is starting a new fiscal year. As we close the prior year and begin the new, I thought it appropriate to look back on the highlights of last year and describe our expectations for the next.

For 2001-2002, the Chamber can be proud of many accomplishments, including:

• Initiated the Buy Central Illinois Campaign to emphasize the important business to business local purchasing.
  
• Started the Chamber’s first television show, which was designed to create more awareness of business issues in the community and to promote Chamber events.
  
• Successfully worked with the City of Peoria to reduce a proposed half-cent sales tax increase to one-quarter cent. Opposed the Peoria County sales tax increase.
  
• Completed the Chamber-sponsored Government Task Force and with the support and leadership of municipalities, helped establish a regional council of governments.
  
• Adopted a strategic plan for the Chamber with the goal of better serving our members.
  
• All of the above endeavors were in addition to sponsoring the Chamber’s regular successful activities: CLS Leadership School, Business Breakfast series, the Trade Show, Business After Hours, the golf outing, and other events.

Over the summer, our Chamber board and committee chairs will refine the action plans and timelines necessary to implement the strategies set forth in the strategic plan. By September this work will be completed, and we will appoint committee members. The committees and their strategic plans are as follows:

• To improve the business climate in the Peoria area and strengthen the local economy, the Business Promotion Committee (chaired by Mark DeSantis) will promote businesses in the Peoria area—collect, identify, and promote expertise in the Peoria community to encourage use of local services and expertise; promote Peoria to future employees; expand the Buy Central Illinois campaign; and expand information regarding businesses, including an online member directory and online business portal
  
  
• To improve the business climate in the Peoria area, the Business Advocacy Committee, (chaired by Tim Elder) and the Workforce Development and Education Committee (chaired by Dr. Don Rager) will provide strategic leadership on critical issues affecting business by advocating on those issues which have the greatest impact on the community and on which the Chamber has the knowledge, resources, and ability to make a difference.
  
  
• The Business Advocacy Committee will specifically take actions to: assist local government by adding business expertise to financial and human resources of governmental units, create a liaison between the business community and government officials, and review local ordinances and practices creating barriers for business development.
  
  
• To improve the business climate in the Peoria area and provide strategic leadership on critical issues affecting business, the Workforce Development/Education Committee will assist education institutions or service providers by adding business expertise to financial and human resources as appropriate and create a liaison between the business community and education and workforce development officials.
  
  
• To provide commerce-enhancing products and services to the members, the Program Committee (chaired by Bill Pape) will provide programs of interest to members and potential members. The committee will evaluate current programs on an on-going basis through development of a scorecard (benefits, competition, effectiveness, strategic fit, financial assessment, etc.). They will also create a platform for new program development (demand potential, risk, competitive structure, market segmentation, planning, etc.).
  
  
• These Chamber programs and services will be promoted by the Marketing Committee (chaired by Deb Simon), which will work to promote successes; assess the effectiveness of the communications medium; achieve deeper penetration with Chamber member companies; and promote the value of Chamber membership and our services.

We look forward to an exciting year, and we’ll keep you informed of our progress. IBI