Ironwood Chamber & Vistors Bureau Consider Joining Forces

IRONWOOD, MI - Saturday, April 3, 2010 - The Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce feels it's best to keep you informed on our effort to join forces with the Western U.P. Convention & Visitors Bureau (WUPCVB), the Ironwood Tourism Council (ITC) and possibly other area entities.

To date, we’ve met twice with the ITC and once with the WUPCVB . The next meeting will include other area Chambers to see if there is an interest in combining efforts. The consensus is that business and tourism efforts are overlapping and in tough economic times, we have to find better ways to work together. We all have a similar mission: “To improve the business climate through all means (economic, tourism, partnerships)”.

We have researched other areas in the Upper Peninsula and found similar situations. Posted below are notes on what these areas have done in terms of combining services.

The Ironwood Chamber is still struggling to continue full time services to our area. Last year we had to run the office on an all volunteer basis for two months. This year we are making adjustments early to avoid any long periods of interrupted services. Starting in April, our executive director will work full time for the first 3 weeks of every month. The last week will be filled by volunteers and also by using other means to continue services. We will keep you updated if that status changes. If you know someone who may be interested in volunteering their time, contact the chamber office at (906) 932-1122.

Please help us help our community by supporting this worthwhile effort!

The Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

President - Trish Massi
Vice-President - Karen Stevens
Treasurer - Nancy Zak
Secretary - Nancy Gotta
Board Members - Donna Scorse, Pam Bretalls, Steve Martens, Dee Smith
Executive Director - Kim Kolesar

Information on Upper Peninsula Partnerships

Contact List:

Bruce Orttenburger, CEO for the Dickinson Area Partnership (Iron Mountain), 906-774-2002 & Linda Zanon, Chamber Director, Dickinson Area Partnership(Iron Mountain)

Steve Mattson, CVB, Escanaba, Delta CoAmanda Ingraham, Munising, Greater Munising Bay Partnership 888-335-8264

Vicky Micheau, Chamber Director, Escanaba, 906/786-2192

Amanda Ingraham, Downtown Development Administrative Asst., Munising, 906-387-2138

Pat Black: CVB Director, Marquette, MI. 800-544-4321

Notes from conversations: I encourage others to contact these folks for further information or questions.

Bruce, Orttenburger, Iron Mountain

Bruce said approx. 4 years ago the Dickinson Area Partnership was formed. They felt it was the key to everyone’s survival. Their partnership consists of the Chamber (formally the Dickenson County Chamber), the Economic Development Commission and the Tourism Council that collects the 2% tax. They merged operations to coordinate all groups and formed the partnership using the Lake Superior Partnership in Marquette as their model. However, he said some things had to be tailored to meet their community needs.
They also operate the Brownfield Redevelopment and the Builders Exchange out of their offices. The Michigan Welcome Center is also located in their building.
Mission: To improve the business climate through all means (economic, tourism, partnerships, etc.).
Funding: All partners contribute in to the partnership with a formula that works for them. The tourism council keeps own books but pays in a monthly fee, Chamber collects annual membership dues and fundraises and EDC partners include private enterprises and municipality funding.
Board: Consists of 3 people from Chamber, 3 from tourism, 3 from economic development and 1 from the educational community
Benefits: Funding, coordination of projects, strength in numbers and more influence. Since the partnership began their membership has greatly increased
Bruce has presented their model to the Houghton Chamber and other areas. He is willing to present to our community. His suggestion is to form a 5 member committee representing each partner for brainstorming and buy in. He said even if everyone in not “on board” right away, we should start with 2-3 entities and hopefully others will see the benefits on working together as one unit. Then he suggests the small group visit the Iron Mountain facility to attend a round table session with his group. Then he would be willing to attend a Business After 5 in our area for a larger presentation

Steve Mattson, CVB Director, Escanaba (Delta County)

Their CVB moved in to the Chamber office 4 years ago to share expenses. They pay a monthly rental fee.
Board: Separate boards
Funding: Funding kept separate
Benefits: Share staff, building, tourism guide and other projects
Also in same building sharing resources: Economic Development Commission, Builders Exchange and Fairground operations. Everyone has their own office.
Problem: Running out of space since other partners joined.
Steve would also be willing to give a presentation to our community. He was invited to give a presentation to the Munising Area Chamber who had to close their doors over a year now.

Vicky Micheau: Chamber Director, Escanaba: Unable to reach.

Amanda Ingraham, Downtown Development Admin. Asst., Munising

Due to economy and loss of members, the Munising Chamber closed over a year ago. Once the community realized the loss of the Chamber, the DDA and the City hired a part time person (16 hours wk). In October 2009, they joined the Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development (GMBPCD is approx. 2 years old). They are working through the process
They decided to partner because they were all working separately to achieve similar goals.
They also recently opened up the partnership opportunity to their township
Their Convention & Visitors Bureau did not want to buy in to partnership. She didn’t elaborate. All she said is they are trying to work through that aspect.
Board: Consists of 14 members, half of the board is from the Chamber, others include DIDA, City of Munising, and other partners
Benefit: Working together
Hurdle: 1) Convincing partners

2). Re-applying for Chamber name. People look for Chamber, not partnership name and are confused

Pat Black, CVB, Marquette

Approx. 12 years ago, the Marquette Chamber re-organized and formed the Lake Superior Community Partnership. This eliminated the Marquette and Isphiming Chambers of Commerce and included the Economic Development Commission.
Pat said there had been some talk about sharing resources with the CVB (building, funding, staff, etc.). She feels a partnership would be very beneficial and if times got really tough they would consider it as long as the funding was kept separate.
Goal of the Lake Superior Partnership: Work together as one entity
Recent Stumbling Block: Ishpeming would like to form their own chamber again to re-gain their identity. The Marquette CVB has offered to fund a person for Ishpeming 2 day’s week (16 hours) IF they find a highway location. They will also supply them with all tourism materials.
Pat said their CVB works very closely with their Downtown Development Authority to market their downtown on any tourism projects.
Pat said their CVB’s main mission is tourism. She said they are located on Washington Street. They thrive on walk in traffic.