Since the decision was made a year ago to split the economic development alliance from Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, Enid chamber officials have been focusing more on quality-of-life and community development issues for Enid and northwest Oklahoma.
“I think the change has been good,” said Jon Blank-enship, chamber president and CEO. “Economic development is such an important topic and it merits attention in a lot of different ways.”
After the split, the chamber went into a three-year strategy in community development and legislative areas. That new focus is starting to pay off, Blankenship said.
The strategy adopted by the chamber involves developing and implementing a regional work force development plan, developing the best public school system in the state, increasing Enid’s retail market share, developing a downtown development strategy, increasing the availability of affordable housing and promoting state legislative initiatives.
In developing this agenda, Blankenship said, local community leaders have committed to three years of service to help these goals happen.
Part of working to develop a qualified work force is getting job and career information and exposure to students while they’re still in elementary and high school.
The chamber’s mentoring program, begun by Stan Brownlee years ago at McKinley Elementary School, has expanded to all fifth-graders in the Enid district.
“The goal is to give kids exposure to careers and jobs that are available right here in the region,” Blankenship said. “We’re trying to plant the seed in the early childhood years.”
The passage of a $99.5 million bond issue last week has paved the way for the chamber’s second strategy in enhancing and improving Enid’s public school system. That bond package will mean two new elementary schools will be built, all buildings will be upgraded and technology will be enhanced to improve the learning environment in all schools.
“It is a great investment in Enid’s future and will develop new opportunities for economic growth,” Blankenship said.”
Retail development is a key strategy for the chamber and the city of Enid, Blankenship said. The city committed to funding a study by Retail Attractions, and that study has been completed, Blankenship said.
“It makes good sense because the city has become more dependent on the sales tax to offer services,” he said.
The study is helping the chamber and others form a game plan to go after retailers currently missing in the Enid area. Blankenship said he is positive some gaps can be filled as soon as the recession eases up. The key will be to add dollars, not replace dollars, already circulating in the community.
“We will focus on new sales opportunities,” he said.
Downtown future enhancement will be influenced heavily by what happens with Convention Hall/Mark Price Arena, which is not being utilized at all now as a sports facility because it is not Americans with Disability Act compliant.
Ideas already are being considered to refurbish and renovate the building into a basketball facility.
“I have no doubt it can be a Gallagher Arena-type facility,” Blankenship said.
However, Blankenship pointed out it is important to also play up on positive things occurring downtown in the last 20 years.
“Major progress has been made,” he said, pointing out David Allen Memorial Ball-park, Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse, creation of a Symphony Center and the addition of several full-service restaurants downtown.
Legislatively, Enid and seven other communities have formed a mid-size city alliance. The cities involved in this effort have formed a coalition to pursue state funding for capital improvements in mid-size cities. There also is a focus on airport improvements through state and federal legislative involvement.
Drawing into all of this is a marketing campaign, “Come Home to Excellence,” initiated a couple of years ago. This theme has been prominent in city and chamber marketing materials.
“It’s a broad-based message that speaks to tourism, job recruitment, economic development,” Blankenship said.
He said he’s pleased where Enid’s chamber is in the three-year strategy.
“We’re focusing on business climate, quality of life and legislative affairs,” he said. “We have an organized effort that I think is a good stimulus for future successes.”