Chamber sets goals for 2011

Economic development, networking and boosting tourism are among the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce's goals for 2011.

New FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison, who was officially named to the position last week, said Tuesday one of the chamber's primary goals for next year is to improve communication and networking among its members.

"There's an overall theme of communication with our members, so they're more aware of activities to promote business in the area," she said.

One way the chamber works to meet this goal is through the weekly Chamber Coffees, in which typically more than 30 chamber members have the chance to network with other members, learn about new businesses, or get updates on existing local companies.

The chamber, which currently consists of more than 360 members from across Bourbon County, is also concentrating on membership development and retention. The chamber recruited 48 new members through a membership drive last month, Madison said.

"We'd like to grow that (membership)," she said.

The chamber is a volunteer, nonprofit organization that works with various entities in the community to facilitate growth for existing businesses and to recruit new business and industry.

Madison said economic development is another of the chamber's key goals for 2011. The chamber and the city of Fort Scott are currently working with several investors and investment groups that are looking to develop property or land for housing and business in Fort Scott.

The two entities are also searching for opportunities for downtown businesses and other industry, and are advocates for the expansion of U.S. Highway 69 to four lanes from Fort Scott south to U.S. Interstate 44 in Oklahoma, Madison added.

The chamber also hopes to improve efforts to increase tourism and promotion of Fort Scott, and is working with the city on a new proposal, Madison said.

"We're working closely with the city trying to get a new hotel in Fort Scott ... a larger hotel to attract larger groups in Fort Scott," she said.

The chamber responds to inquiries on its website, www.fortscott.com, requesting information on Fort Scott and works with groups to plan trips that suit their interests including shopping, history, antiques or entertainment.

Another main area of focus for the chamber is referrals. The chamber promotes Fort Scott daily to visitors who stop by the chamber office. Visitors are referred to area restaurants, hotels, businesses and potential employers.

The chamber also serves as an information source for local residents seeking more information on businesses in the area, according to information provided by Madison.

The chamber also plans to continue supporting and organizing events throughout the year, such as Forks and Corks, the Taste of Home Cooking School, the Halloween and Christmas parades and its annual golf tournament.

It is also looking to initiate new and different events, Madison said.

The chamber also hosts forums to educate the public about important legislative issues, seminars to educate business owners on topics such as e-mail marketing and taxation, and promotes new businesses in the community by hosting ribbon-cutting events, according to information Madison provided.

Prior to being named executive director, Madison, who is also the current chairwoman of the chamber's board of directors, had been voluntarily directing the efforts of the chamber since the position was vacated in September.

A hiring committee interviewed several candidates for the position and named Madison to the chamber's top administrative position last week.