Chamber, officials identify areas for growth

Published 6:00 am Friday, March 11, 2005

Chamber of commerce leaders Thursday cited a need to increasepublic awareness of the community’s offerings as they strive toimprove Brookhaven and Lincoln County.

As part of Entergy’s Team City 2 economic develop program,members of the chamber’s board of directors and city and countyofficials identified and examined the community’s strengths,weaknesses, opportunities and threats to future development. Themorning exercise and discussion were beneficial, said Anthony Bell,Industrial Development Foundation chairman.

“This is the start to give us a direction where we need to go inthe community,” Bell said. “It gives us an awareness of where weare, the issues at hand and where we need to direct our attentionto make the community better.”

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As part of the program, participants were asked to identify the topissues facing the community.

Garnering the most votes were public awareness, a lack of availablefunds for public improvement, a need for industry-ready land andbroader participation in various activities, including chambermembers, minorities and others. Also getting multiple votes wasdeveloping a plan to attract targeted businesses.

“These are pretty broad,” Entergy Community Development ManagerSteve Kelly after the meeting. “I think that is good until they cancome back and be more specific.”

During the meeting, directors spoke about the link between publicawareness and participation.

“They really go hand in hand,” Kelly said.

Directors said public awareness is a two-pronged effort needed forwithin the community and elsewhere. Former chamber president KennyGoza indicated people will get on board with the chamber’s messagewhen it is determined and promoted.

“Once they buy into it, it becomes not only our message inBrookhaven but outside Brookhaven,” Goza said.

With top issues spilling into other topics discussed, somesuggested a need to narrow the focus of the community developmenteffort.

“You’ve got to have public awareness of an effort to make this abetter place to be,” said board member Rob Fisher. “That’s thebottom line.”

In addition to awareness efforts, directors also realized the needto have industry-ready land. An effort is under way to obtain landfor a new industrial park, but officials acknowledged that is notthe same as having the park prepared for occupancy.

“There’s a big difference in acquiring land and having it industryready,” Mayor Bob Massengill said.

A lack of money to pursue desired projects was another factorinfluencing community development opportunities.

“Funding is a serious issue for everybody,” board member MarkMathis said.

Following Thursday’s meeting, Kelly said he will compile data andissues discussed and present the information to directors at afuture meeting. He said the second meeting will identify a programof work and ways to accomplish stated goals.

“Our follow-up meeting will be a determination of how we do thingsin the community to make it more successful,” Kelly said.