Economy / Jobs / Sustainability
Focus on:
- Reaching out and identifying key issues with Chamber members
- Providing productive "hot topic" forums
- Help existing business profit, grow and succeed
- Support key issues and projects that contribute to the economic vitality and quality of life in our community
With an ongoing corporate visitation program, council members and Chamber staff have identified these issues:
- Workforce shortages and lack of skilled labor
- Lack of workforce housing
- Transit service shortages
- Rising insurance costs
Partners, Key Issues and Projects
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, through efforts of its Sarasota Tomorrow Action Council, Chamber staff, key volunteers and partners, remains extremely active in a variety of issues of importance to the economic vitality of the greater Sarasota region.
Examples include:
The Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County has completed the 2008 Business Climate Survey to determine the attitudes of Sarasota County's business owners/managers about the existing business climate. The results identified key issues to be addressed, and are used as a baseline to measure progress toward improving these specific concerns and the overall business climate in the county.
Review the EDC's Business Climate Survey.
The Coalition of Business Associations
As a founding member of this newly formed voice for business, The Chamber has joined with other business associations. The group's objective is to exercise the strength of the combined 9,000 members to improve the area's business climate and improve citizen understanding in the health and future of our economy and quality of life.
COBA meets monthly and is planning a variety of events in 2008. The lead off event was a COBA sponsored forum presented by the USF Sarasota-Manatee Institute of Public Policy & Leadership, on January 17 entitled "Save Our Homes" AMENDMENT ONE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?". Guest panelists included:
- John M. Sebree, Vice President for Public Policy, Florida Association of Realtors
- John Wane Smith, Legislative Affairs Director, Florida Association of Counties
- Lisa Carlton, State Senator, District 23
- Nora Patterson, Sarasota County Commission Chair
- Ed Chiles, Chief Executive Officer, The Chiles Group, Anna Maria
Cultural Park - City of Sarasota
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce helped promote, sponsor and staff the newly-formed Cultural Park Task Force. This City of Sarasota effort is designed to bring to life the concepts contained in a multi-year planning effort to develop the 42 acres surrounding the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall into a world-class set of venues for cultural events and groups.
The City Alliance
Vision:
A vibrant, sustainable downtown Sarasota.
Mission:
Leverage the combined energy and resources of private sector stakeholder associations thru collaboration, shared ideas, and group action on targeted initiatives.
In the early going the groups shared their various projects and priorities and their aspirations for an economically vibrant and sustainable downtown. Projects were prioritized with the help of a facilitator and all of the participants began to feel that our shared interests were far more common than our differences. Various presentations were made on specific projects and a "top five" list which includes:
- implement the redesign of Fruitville Road from US301 to US41 as an attractive gateway to downtown and the bay front
- establish a downtown improvement district
- pursue the city's project to make Tamiami Trail through the downtown corridor pedestrian-friendly for easy access between downtown and the bayfront
- faithfully implement the city's master plan
- continue to develop a Downtown Historic District
The Alliance is not structured like the many organizations that are included. It is a true coalition with shared decision-making among four general categories of groups: Business/Civic, Merchants, Property Owners and Residents. Attendance at every meeting has included representatives of each of these groups. The outcome has been stronger relationships, mutual respect and a louder more consistent voice for the future of our downtown.
Fruitville Road Study Group
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce helped form and serve on this newly-appointed group in conjunction with the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County and the Fair Board. In 2008, the study group is charged to develop a master plan for the 98 acres on Fruitville Road surrounding Robarts Arena.
For more information on these and many other initiatives at The Chamber, please contact Del Borgsdorf, dborgsdorf@sarasotachamber.com 941-556-4045 or Valorie Hillerich, vhillerich@sarsotachamber.com 941.556.4046.
