|
|
Enterprise Zone
The Greater Colorado
Springs Chamber of Commerce is engaged various community economic
development initiatives with the desired collective outcome being the
creation of jobs and wealth, higher-paying jobs, a larger tax base, an
increase in the number of primary employers, and enhanced business
retention in the El Paso County Enterprise Zone. Specific activities
supporting the project include:
-
The Business
Retention and Expansion Visitation Program (BREV). The BREV
Program is a multi-year effort designed to ensure the needs of the
existing business community are being met for those businesses
within and outside of the enterprise zone. To date, hundreds of
primary employers have been visited; issues resolved with a 90+%
resolution rate, and, as such, this program has become a staple in
judging the needs of the business community.
-
The Chamber is establishing an
overarching committee in the Governmental Affairs and Public Policy
Division, called the Competitive Edge. This committee will
incorporate three committees: water, transportation, and education.
This committee will study ways and take proactive steps to enhance
business opportunity and growth. It will look at over-regulation, over
taxation, over-reaching government intrusion, and mandates along with
identifying opportunities to improve the business climate so that
businesses in our region will thrive. The Committee will focus on the
three critical investment areas of water, transportation and education,
but will also look at ways to be more competitive in a global economy.
It will also look for ways in which to assist small business in
increasing their numbers.
-
Support to Small Business. Nearly 90% of the businesses in
Colorado Springs are classified as small business. The Chamber prides
itself on being “the cutting edge competitive advantage” for small and
medium sized businesses. Central to this effort is the Chamber’s Small
Business Taskforce which is chartered to build a “community best
practice” resource model for existing and prospective small businesses.
This is a web-based, “one-stop shopping” venue to answer FAQ’s on
resource, support or opportunity inquiries. This website,
www.springssmallbiz.com, is on-line to the benefit of the
business community receiving nearly 300,000 visits per year. In
addition, the task force looks for new and innovative ways to continue
to support the small business community. In addition to the taskforce
are myriad programs designed to improve business well-being through
either revenue generation or expense reduction. Included in these
initiatives are the Chamber’s Insurance Program and multiple networking
and sponsorship activities all built with an eye toward enhancing
business performance.
-
Support to the Military. The military and
businesses that support the military provide 40% share of direct and
indirect support to the Pikes Peak region economy. With the forecast
growth of Fort Carson over the next several years, small and large
businesses will see expanding opportunities and job creation, while the
community and State see an increase in the tax base. Several Chamber
Military Division programs contribute directly to this economic
development and the health of business activity.
-
Colorado Defense Mission Coalition: Focused on the growth at
Fort Carson and it’s impact on multiple sectors of the economy and
regional quality of life.
-
Military Job Fair: Promotes job retention and job growth in our
community. Businesses looking to grow their employee base have access
to over 1,000 highly qualified retired, separated, and those near
retirement or separation, and their spouses.
-
Small Business Outreach Program: The chamber, in conjunction
with the bases small business advocates, provide a two day forum for
businesses, with emphasis on growing small business and understanding
the intracacies of doing business with the government.
-
Joint National Integration Center/Missile Defense Agency
(JNIC/MDA) working Group: This chamber group focuses on the health and
growth of the JNIC and MDA mission within the military and defense
industry. Looks for opportunities that will bring new defense work
and the creation of higher paying, technically oriented jobs to the
region.
-
Operation Home Front: Allows businesses, through the Chamber
web-site, to promote products and services at discounts to the over
37,000 active duty military and their families, generating local
business support and growth.
-
Military Speakers Luncheons: Senior leadership of our military
bases provide an “Annual Report” on the activities and future programs
to business leaders of the region. They reinforce the economic impact
the military has on our regional growth and stability.
-
Armed Forces Concert and Luncheon: Further exposure of our
business and community leaders to our military. Gives sponsors
recognition and visibility for their businesses, and for the nearly
1,000 attendees to network.
-
Urban Renewal. The Chamber of Commerce remains
actively interested/engaged in
all facets of urban renewal to include,
but not limited to, the north Nevada Ave. corridor and the
revitalization of Confluence Park…to include the convention center/hotel
initiative.
The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber
of Commerce is the “Voice of Business” in Colorado Springs, both within
and without the Enterprise Zone; member and non-member alike. In this
capacity, the Chamber of Commerce serves all business both in-zone and
out of zone. Specific areas of current attention and activity within
the zone include a focus on downtown development, the Airport Master
Plan, Confluence Park, a new convention center/hotel, and the retention
and nurturing of our technology based businesses. Zone-related project
costs will be allocated on a direct cost basis as a function of staff
time and expenses directed to the specific in-zone activity. The
cumulative effect on the totality of the in and out of Zone business
climate will be significant as the desired outcomes are achieved.
|
