Cool reception greets Canal Winchester chamber’s request for money
The Canal Winchester Area Chamber of Commerce’s request for financial support from the city is not in line for a quick OK.
The chamber is seeking a three-year commitment from the city to fund a full-time employee who would focus on strategic planning and increasing membership.
However, some members of City Council have remained cool to the idea of providing $64,160 the first year with increases to $68,580 by the third year to pay for that employee’s salary, benefits, training and travel.
An ordinance providing $10,000 annually to the chamber for up to three years received its first reading during council’s Oct. 3 meeting. But Councilwoman Laurie Amick hopes her peers will support the chamber’s full request for funding, which was proposed during a presentation to council in August.
“If we don’t have a strong chamber of commerce, that could be a deterrent for people wanting to do business here,” Amick said. “I know the chamber’s role is to help businesses once they are here, but to attract business, I’d think you’d want to have a strong chamber.”
Chamber secretary Kristin Ankrom told council the organization has a candidate for the role who’s doing part-time work, including reaching out to members, organizing lunches and social media, "what we need to survive."
The chamber’s membership is roughly 180 businesses, which is much lower than nearby chambers in Pickerington (400 members) and Lancaster (500 members).
“It comes down to building membership,” Ankrom said. “That’s how the majority of chambers function. The purpose of this is to have someone focus on it.”
In August, Ankrom told council that some chambers do get support from their cities, but it’s typically membership dues and fundraising that “keep chambers afloat.”
Councilman Patrick Shea suggested combining the chamber with the city’s tourism bureau, Destination: Canal Winchester. He pointed to the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, which focuses on business retention, business attraction and tourism.
“I’m not opposed to the chamber. I think it’s incredibly important,” Shea said. “A good, healthy chamber is important, but I think with the size of our community, perhaps having an organization that serves both of those functions would be worth looking at.”
Councilman Bob Clark said he’s “not convinced this amount of money, or even more money, is the answer for this organization at this point.”
He suggested the chamber raise $15,000 to $20,000 and then “ask for the rest” from council.
Amick compared the chamber’s request to the city financially supporting an executive director to lead the Canal Winchester Joint Recreation District (CWJRD).
Greg Pearce was hired in January after City Council provided $20,850 in 2021 and will provide $83,400 in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to support the position. A “pro-rated” $62,550 will be paid in 2026, the final year of the city’s agreement.
The CWJRD is operated jointly by the city and Canal Winchester Schools, which provides facilities.
“It was struggling … and they’ve made tremendous progress,” Amick said.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Cool reception greets Canal Winchester chamber’s request for money
