Friday, June 29, 2007

$4,500 in funds approved for DeSoto Chamber of Commerce

By Daphne Brown of DeSoto TODAY

Putting to rest a months-long decision, the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation approved $4,500 increase in funds to the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce.

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DEDC contributes $1,000 each month to the chamber in its mission to create an environment to stimulate commerce. The chamber requested an additional $1,000 each month for a total of $24,000 a year.

In April, the chamber president and chairman requested the increase for its program of services, many of which include encouraging small businesses to remain in the city.

Uncomfortable with the 100 percent increase, a majority of DEDC board members were hesitant. DEDC board member Brian Ball said money isn’t in an unending supply.

“I don’t want the justification to be to balance the chamber’s budget,” Ball said. “I just don’t want to be a budget balancer.”

Fortunately, Ball said, DEDC has some tough citizens with which to deal.

Dollars

“I say fortunately because they keep us on the straight and narrow,” he said. “How do I justify granting this increase and still be a partner in the process? I want to be supportive.”

Chamber President Cammy Henderson said among the chamber’s responsibilities is to keep businesses in business. She said the chamber provides unique opportunities to help businesses grow by bringing them together and educating them on everything from customer service to legal issues. Henderson said about 65 percent of the chamber’s membership consists of small business owners.

“We don’t do for big business what we do for small business,” Henderson said.

Ball asked how DEDC measures the effect of its investment in the chamber.

DEDC Board Member Curtistene McCowan said DEDC’s role is designated by law. She felt comfortable in continuing with what DEDC has done in the past.

“I’m having a problem taking that leap from $1,000 a month to $2,000 a month and justifying it,” McCowan said.

DEDC Board Member Perry Holloway said he sees the chamber as an intangible partner because the chamber staff and board have been instrumental in assisting DEDC in programs such as its Business Retention and Expansion Program (BREP), which has involved detailed, sit-down interviews with DeSoto business representatives in an effort to analyze their perception of the city and all it has to offer.

“Everything we do we’re not going to justify a return,” Holloway said. “All of the programs the chamber has in relation to promoting and moving small businesses forward are in the right direction.”

DEDC Board Member James Zander said no one is denying that the chamber has done a very good job, but the issue is a question of renewing versus doubling DEDC’s economic contribution.

“If any other entity came to us for funds, or an increase in funds, we would ask them to justify it,” Zander said.

Holloway said the issue comes down to retention but wanted to know what DEDC Executive Director Scott Livingston wanted to know about the situation. Livingston asked that he and Henderson get together to see what they could work out beyond what DEDC is currently contributing.

The chamber came back to the DEDC board during its May and June meetings with detailed information about its services to businesses and the community, also providing a dollar figure attached to each service. The chamber’s revised request involved DEDC providing $1,375 a month — a monthly increase of $375 — with an additional monetary commitment of about $7,500 to participate in the chamber’s golf tournament, the chamber’s single largest annual fundraiser.

The 2007 Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Robert C. Simmons said the chamber thought the golf tournament would be a great way for DEDC to bring current and potential business decision-makers to the city during one of the best times to promote all that the city, the chamber and Thorntree Country Club have to offer business owners looking to open a business.

Zander said he liked the idea of DEDC having a team or teams at the golf tournament, but he did not think it was prudent for DEDC to be listed as a title sponsor.

“From a taxpayer’s perspective, they won’t see that as a benefit, for their tax dollars to be spent on such an event.”

Simmons said the chamber’s ultimate goal is not to get more teams for the golf tournament but to allow DEDC board members and staff to invite individuals they see as key players in generating economic development to highlight one of DeSoto’s showplaces.

Ball said discussions between the two bodies had gotten off track and apologized for his part in that.

“The city of DeSoto is enhanced by a vibrant chamber,” Ball said. “I think it is in the best interest of economic development for this community to partner in reality versus funding some project to justify any increase the chamber may be requesting.”

He said DEDC wants to be a part of creating an environment that assists businesses in flourishing because it is not something DEDC can do by itself.

“I have zero problem in continuing where we have been funding the chamber and continuing to work to figure out where the real value is,” Ball said, referring to the chamber as the DEDC’s community partner in not only retaining businesses but expanding them.

Holloway said DEDC pushed the chamber to identify the intangibles by naming eight or nine programs that it uses to help businesses help themselves.

“We forced them here, we put them here, now we say we don’t want this,” Holloway said. “Let’s vote and get on with this.”

McCowan said she wasn’t comfortable with the $7,500 tournament sponsorship.

“I could buy into the $1,375 a month, which represents an increase, but I am uncomfortable with the sponsorship,” McCowan said. “I want to see this move forward; we have spent a long time on this.”

Holloway said he felt DEDC was missing an incredible opportunity to market itself and the city’s amenities, which is all a part of attracting businesses to a city.

“I come from the corporate world, and we lived and died for things like this,” Holloway said. “We should be committed to that tournament. We’re crazy not to be a part of that.”

McCowan said she felt the monthly increase request and the golf tournament were separate issues.

Ball said he agreed with both Holloway and McCowan’s thoughts on the marketing aspects and separate issues, respectively.

“I’m comfortable moving with the $1,375 in an effort to do some things we haven’t been doing to get some results we haven’t been getting,” Ball said.

Ball made a motion and McCowan seconded it. The item passed by a vote of 3-1 with Holloway voting against it.

The board wanted Henderson and Livingston to continue working together to shore up the relationship.

In other action, the board unanimously voted to name McCowan as its president, Ball as its vice president and Holloway as its secretary/treasurer. The appointments will remain effective until Dec. 31, according to DEDC bylaws. Also, the board voted to table approval of its fiscal year 2007-08 operating budget, which includes a 20-year financial outlook, and its Program of Work until the regularly scheduled July 23 board meeting.

With the election of Sandy Respess to the DeSoto City Council, the board is short one member. Respess had served as board president until being elected to the council in the May election.

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