The Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce is planning to expand its services through 2022 and develop a strategic business plan to make the organization sustainable long-term.
In October, Grey Highlands council approved $10,000 in funding for the program through its community grant program, with the requirement that the chamber – which has struggled financially in recent years – develop a plan for self-sufficiency.
"The Chamber of Commerce is in the process of planning a robust year ahead, with the ultimate goal to have the chamber completely sustainable through member dues and non-due revenues," said Chamber president Karen Cox in a presentation to council Dec. 15.
"We're looking to increase our members, our consumer services and to raise public awareness with the goal of becoming a prominent organization in Grey Highlands"
The chamber currently runs business seminars, offers discounted insurance coverage to its members, promotes tourism in the municipality, and organizes holiday events in the Grey Highlands.
In 2022, it plans to continue offering its services, as well as planning holiday events like the Markdale Santa Parade, while also reviving the home and garden show, hosting an awards event for local businesses, and bringing forward a new seasonal event, which has yet to be decided upon.
Cox hopes that these additional events can generate revenue and contribute to the chamber's sustainability.
"We originally had planned to request $15,000 to get our ambitious plans started which would provide a good foundation for the chamber to create a couple of events that could eventually be a source of non-dues revenue for the chamber," she said.
The chamber plans on delivering its strategic business plan by September 2022, which will guide the organization through 2026.
The business plan will assess the feasibility and viability of its events and services, and also outline the chamber's goals to develop an app for locals and visitors, and establish a small business centre to provide space and mentorship for new businesses.
"We're looking to establish a business centre which would provide rental space by the month, or the day, or even the meeting space for the small and the home and the startup businesses in Grey Highlands," Cox said. "It would be able to provide some training space and mentorship opportunities as well, plus host the chamber."
"The second thing we're looking at is an app for Grey Highlands that can be utilized by the residents as well as the visitors to Grey Highlands. Like a website, this can be built in stages and we can add various components, from business information to local gems and attractions to video and audio walking tours of the area."
Council was supportive of the chamber's direction, but Deputy Mayor Aakaash Desai questioned whether a municipally-funded chamber could adequately critique municipal decisions.
"One of the things that I've always believed the role of the chamber is in our democracy, especially in a political environment where opposition parties don't necessarily exist, [is] to be that opposition party, at least when it comes to fiscal issues or issues that affect businesses," he said. "How can the chamber receive support and criticize the municipality in an unbiased manner?"
Cox responded by noting the chamber's plan is to operate on fees for service, and not municipal subsidy.
"The Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the business community – we will have full information say this percentage of the businesses support [an issue], or this percentage of the businesses don't support [an issue], or this is the rationale why," responded Cox. "I'm trying to move away from the municipality supporting the chamber as you're indicating, and more that we're providing a service for the municipality and we're receiving a fee."
