Westside Association Meeting Minutes-Nov 3-2011

Meeting called to order by President Connie Drexler @12:00

Approval October minutes (Mike/Rick) passed

Treasurer’s Report- no report this month

Chamber Report:

  • Annual report in this month’s Newswave
  • Holiday Parade 11/10
  • Rebranding of Downtown
  • Used survey to get opinions on logo for downtown
  • January 26- Business Expo- booths still available
  • Feb 7- Economic Outlook Breakfast

Sign committee

  • Westside paying half
  • DOT  gave approval on signs #1-5 on placement
  • City – ok with placement of #6
  • Need approval with property owners on #7-10
  • Put up end of Feb or beginning of March

Membership

  • Send out thank you notes for guests
  • Welcome letters to new members
  • Letters to acknowledge member renewals

Executive Meeting:

  • Fall Economics Insights Meeting-
    1.  Held- Oct 20- 7:30-9:30-At LaSures
    2. good attendance
  • December- slate of officers and board members

Guest Speaker- Rob Kleman- Executive Director of OAEDC

  • Began in 1978
  • 33 member board
  • 3 staff people
  • funding
    1. 60%-70% from Chamber
    2. contract with BID (Business Improvement District)
    3. commissions from land sales for city
  • Strategy
    1. entrepreneurship
    2. Redevelopment efforts
    3. Work with workforce board
    4. Business retention
    5. Revolving loan fund
    6. Engage in regional partnerships
  • Foster business start ups
    1. ORIGIN- partners work with 700 clients
    2. OAEDC- work with 100 startup annually
    3. Angels on the Water fund
  • Assist with Downtown
    1. Work with them 23 years
    2. Special events
    3. Marking/communications
  • BID Grant-
    1. grants to small businesses in district
    2. latest grant to Soup-A-GoGo
  • Central city development efforts
    1. Downtown action plan
    2. Develop areas
  • Attract new business
    1. Attend trade shows
    2. Direct mail
    3. Radio show
    4. Property listing
  • Business retention
    1. Call on local CEO
  • Financial incentives
    1. Has own loan program
    2. Since inception leveraged 4Million
    3. Coordinate tax credits
  • Stepping up business attraction efforts
  • 2010- 900 commercial building permits
  • 2011- on pace for about the same as 2010
  • commercial construction-
    past 6 years (2005-2010) almost 300 Million- city of Oshkosh
  • industrial construction –
    Oshkosh #1-46 Million next is Green Bay with 43 million
  • Unemployment
    1. Oshkosh – 7.1%
    2. Appleton- 8.5%
  • Downtown Action Plan0 Priority recommendations
    1. Public Plaza – Opera House Square
    2. Riverside Park- Leach Amphitheater
    3. Convention Center Expansion
    4. North Main St streetscape and Facades
    5. Pioneer Drive
  • City Center
    1900 worked employed in the various businesses located there
  • Hotel-
    1. Working name- Ahearn Waterfront Hotel
    2. WHG/UWO
    3. $8.5 Million project
    4. TIF from city- goes to council Nov 8
    5. UWO- also building Alumni Welcome and Conference Center
  • Marion Rd Development
    1. 2011- The Rivers
    2. 60% leased
  • Southshore
    1. Pioneer to 6th Ave
    2. Old Miles Kimball site
    3. Apartments
    4. White building- more apartments and retail space
  • Opportunities in Oshkosh
    1. Boatworks/JeldWen sties
    2. Oregon to S. Main
    3. Granary Restaurant
    4. Pioneer Drive Area
    5. Bayshore Cottages
    6. Marion Rd
    7. Hwy 41 Corridor (Sears Grand/Aviation Plaza/Landmark Plaza/vacant land)

 Next meeting Thursday December 1-2011-11:30

                Topic- Signs for businesses to direct traffic during HWY 21 closure in 2012

  • Reserve your placement on signs
  • Learn the latest on the sign locations

Meeting adjourned at 1:00PM