Commerce Chenango

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by: Michael McGuire

If the best jobs in big industry haven’t already been outsourced, moved south or left the country altogether, it seems more and more likely that they soon will.

What’s for sure: Large scale manufacturing operations and corporate investors aren’t beating down the door to locate in Chenango County or the rest of upstate. In fact, Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter admits the chances of a 300-plus jobs employer setting up shop locally – like Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, which is closing its Woods Corners site for good in December 2009 – are slim to none. High taxes, high energy prices and an overall high cost of doing business in New York state are the main reasons why not.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the county’s best days are behind, Carpenter says. It just means that in 2008, it’s time for a change.

“We have an opportunity for growth,” Carpenter says. “And with a positive attitude, you can see that our situation can and will get better.”

While Chenango shouldn’t plan on hitting one out of the park with a homerun-type company, the first-year Commerce Chenango head believes it can win a lot of games playing small ball – attracting and growing small to medium-sized start-up industries. More specifically, bringing in niche businesses that, although they might need a boost, aren’t short on energy, ideas or mettle.

Why will these businesses come here? For starters, Carpenter says the county has a strong central location, a good mix of strong existing industrial infrastructure and shovel-ready sites, safe communities, and good schools – all attractive qualities not every area can tout.

“We have to focus on all the good things we still have here. We have to show prospects that our quality of life here is special,” she said. “Not all is lost. I definitely think we can overcome these hardships and obstacles we face here in upstate. We, Chenango County, have to work on promoting our assets.”

A change within

While one of Commerce Chenango’s top priorities in 2008 will no doubt be seeking out entrepreneurs and investors to start up projects locally, the Commerce Chenango staff says their main functions will remain promoting and retaining the small businesses and big industries the county already has, as well as providing a wide range of benefits to their members. To better streamline those services, the organization is undergoing a consolidation and name change that started in 2007.

Formerly known as “The Chenango County Chamber of Commerce,” the chamber is now called “Commerce Chenango.” Internally, the organization will be broken down into four sections. Externally, it will be one name for all things business in Chenango.

“Our strategic mission is to pool the resources from these different organizations and leverage them together to provide better services,” said Carpenter.

Commerce Chenango’s Board of Directors – once approval is granted by the state Supreme Court in the near future – will be a mix of chamber board members, members of the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency, the Area Corporation and the Chamber Foundation.

Consolidation elsewhere

In 2008, Carpenter said Commerce Chenango hopes to facilitate discussions between local governments about ways they can share services and cut costs.

“That’s something our membership has made clear they’d like to see some sort of action taken on,” said Carpenter, who sits on intermunicipal committee made up of the Town of North Norwich, Town of Norwich and City of Norwich. “If government costs go down, their costs go down.”

In late 2007, the intermunicipal committee members were unable to agree on taking part in a state study to look at areas where consolidation could occur among the three governments.

“Governments need to run like a business,” Carpenter said, “in that they need to look at the areas where they can cut down, save money and conduct their operations cheaper.”

Economic development

In 2007, Commerce Chenango’s Economic Development arm assisted six businesses with $325,000 in loans administered through the county’s Industrial Development Agency. Overall, the organization was involved with 28 businesses – helping them retain jobs and utilize funding to expand.

According to economic development staff, developing the Earl B. Clark Industrial Park in North Norwich will be the department’s next big project in 2008.

Upgrading the state Route 12 corridor, finalizing the future of the currently-shut down New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad and supporting the ongoing fight against the New York Regional Interconnect power line are three other priority issues, Carpenter said.

Education and membership

The organization says it will be administering several educational classes and workshops throughout the year, including “Leadership Chenango,” which is already underway. The “Micro-Enterprise” program, set to begin sometime in either February or March, is perhaps the most anticipated.

“This is the first program of its kind to help smaller enterprises in Chenango County,” said Carpenter. “We’re very excited.”

Through classes, loans and technical assistance, the program will focus on growing small to medium sized agri-businesses and increasing downtown activity throughout the county. Commerce Chenango received a $300,000 small cities grant from the state to fund the program, with $800,000 set aside altogether between the grant and local resources.

Upcoming member workshop topics will include customer service training for employees of small businesses.

“Customer service is vital to small business,” Carpenter said. “That’s what keeps people coming back.”

Other educational focuses will include human resources training.

The organization also reviewed and updated its health insurance plan offerings and member-to-member benefits.

“Our member-to-member benefits program has really been a positive component of our program,” said membership specialist Rachel Crandall. “It works because everybody likes a deal, and I think our members and prospective members recognize that it keeps people spending dollars locally. That benefits everyone.”

Moving forward

After two years in transition, Carpenter says in the midst of her first year as President that the staff is finally solidified, comfortable and headed in the same direction with a common goal.

“There’s a new energy that’s come with the change,” Carpenter said.

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