Chamber continues to grow, provide more services

By RICK STEGMAN, Executive Director

Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce

The Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce (BAC) has seen a 10 percent increase in membership in the past few months. This is an indication that even in our tough economic climate membership in a such an important organization is crucial - but why?

Basically, for a small fee your business hires the Chamber to serve your interests. Because we are not supported by tax dollars or affiliated with any government entity we are completely financed by members' investments and fund raising to be the voice of the business community. Your Chamber is answerable only to you, our members.

The BAC has recently made some significant changes that directly benefit our merchants and businesses. A great deal of effort is presently being expended to market our members and our Bellevue community. Partnerships have been developed with local and area groups to strengthen the Chamber's message. We have also reached out to a number of our local area Chambers and other colleagues to assist our Bellevue members.

Here are a few examples of those efforts:

-Community Master Calendar: Working with the Downtown Committee the BAC held a major meeting with approximately 24 community organizations in the first of monthly meetings. This venue allows for these entities to discuss their future endeavors on the last Tuesday of every month. These meetings will be held at the council chambers in the City Centre at 8 a.m. The Chamber will have a web page soon on their web site that will contain the many upcoming events. This is the first time that anyone can remember that all these groups have had an opportunity to sit at the same table to discuss whatever they care to and to collaborate with each with other.

-Farmers Market: Again, with the Downtown Committee, the BAC is coordinating Bellevue's Main Street Farmers' Market. Our first season, last year, was a big success. This year promises to be bigger and better. Extensive marketing will occur for this season with more vendors than ever. For the first time we have community sponsors, including: The Bellevue Gazette, Bellevue City Schools, Strayer Insurance and Real Estate, The Golden Acorn, and the Bellevue Society for the Arts. The market will be held the second and fourth Saturday May - Sept. with a final Market on Oct. 10.

-Electronic Message Board: To assist with the city's new sign ordinance and to help in information dissemination the Chamber has worked with the Downtown Committee, the Rec Club, Rotary, and the Eagles with securing financing and installation of an elevated electronic message center at the intersection of Sandusky and Main Streets. Besides providing new opportunities for our non-profits to get their word out it will also allow the city to post Amber alerts and other emergency notifications.

-Economic Summit: The five Chambers in Erie County will be hosting an economic summit on May 26. This summit will discuss the strategic priorities of local business and government as it relates to state and federal recovery policies. Both U.S. Senator George Voinovich and U.S. Seneator Sherrod Brown and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur along with Gov. Ted Strickland and State Representatives Mark Wagoner and Dennis Murray have been invited. All members of the five chambers participating will be invited to this event. More details will be forthcoming.

-The United States Army Field Band Concert: The Chamber is sponsoring a special Independence Day Concert on Thursday, July 2 in the Bellevue Junior High School. "The Volunteers" from The Pentagon's Army Field Band will do a free concert for over 600 guests. Co-sponsoring this event with the Chamber is The Bellevue Gazette, The Bellevue City Schools, and The Downtown Committee.

-Leadership Bellevue: The Chamber is assembling a group of retired business leaders that will be "mentors" to new and established businesses to help them design viable business plans. This group will augment the two Small Business Advisors our members presently have access to - Bill Auxter in Fremont and Tim Moore in Norwalk (courtesy of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce).

-Administrative Professional Day: This luncheon will be help on April 22 (formerly Secretary's Day) at The Woodshed. It is important for our business and community leaders to recognize these important staff positions and this lunch helps all of us to do so. Flowers will be there for our special guests as well as special gifts from local businesses. Contact the Chamber for further information.

Please contact the chamber at 419-483-2182 or www.bellevuechamberofcommerce.org for more information.