Member Interview

Amber Fischvogt
Director, Columbus (IN) Enterprise Development Corporation

The Columbus Enterprise Development Corporation (CEDC) is an affiliate of the Columbus (IN) Area Chamber of Commerce, a 2009 ACCE Chamber of the Year award winner.  I recently sat down with CEDC Director Amber Fischvogt to talk about their approach to promoting entrepreneurship.

ACCE – Support for new start-up enterprises is a standard agenda item for most chambers, but at CEDC, supporting entrepreneurs is a primary focus.  What drives that focus and how are you elevating the work?

Amber – The focus really started with our leadership.  We went through a strategic planning process in 2007 and there was a consensus among our Board leaders that fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship needed to be one of the three major components of the work and programs of the Chamber. We also knew we need to do a better job of building connections for current and prospective business owners.  We were running lots of programs, but they felt disjointed.

ACCE – So how did you restructure to meet your goals?”

Amber – We ran with the theme of connecting businesses and structured our entrepreneurial support work around four areas: connect to Information, connect to Peers, connect to People, and connect to the Next Generation.  Since then we’ve launched dynamic programs in each area.  Some are brand new, others grew and transformed from existing efforts.

To connect entrepreneurs with information and training we launched SmallBizU, a compilation of online, on-demand business training courses.  It features over 20 core classes in money, marketing, and management encompassing over 3,500 animated slides and 350 tools and resources contained in a comprehensive knowledgebase.  Specific topics are often demand driven.  We strip out the jargon and get the basics fast.

For peer connections we launched The Entrepreneurial Network (TEN), a group that meets for free every month.  We realize that entrepreneurs can learn on the job, or they can learn from the best teachers of all: other entrepreneurs. Featured speakers for the group include both issue experts and peer business leaders.  Every session includes structured networking time and a facilitated wrap up.  We want to mix inspiration with practical take-away information.  TEN is strongly member driven, and we find that participation is higher because each session is planned and run by peers, not by chamber staff.

Connecting to people is about making sure our start up business leaders know the individuals to turn to for help.  With state grant funding we launched SoInBiz, a web portal designed to be the front door for local entrepreneurs.  It has all maps, lists and links you’d expect including public sector resources, private sector partners and potential customers.  What makes the website different is that it comes with a network of Front Door Champs, local experts to business owners navigate the site and get plugged in.

Connecting to the Next Generation is probably my favorite area to work in.  We have business planning competitions for youth of all ages - from elementary to high school.  Our Maverick Challenge is a business and innovation competition for high school students.  As the students create their business plans, they are connected with Chamber members who serve as mentors.  We’ve had some students actually take their ideas to fruition and start their own businesses.  Others have developed prototypes for new products.  One student actually patented his redesigned yo-yo and is now in discussion with Duncan corporation to get it produced.   

ACCE – How has this refocus changed your organization?

Amber – First, membership engagement has gone through the roof.  Before our 2007 strategic planning effort we benchmarked membership engagement in our programs, products and services at 31%.  Since implementing programs like SoInBiz and TEN, we are at 88% engagement. 

These efforts also position the Chamber for growth and broader leadership.  The free TEN workshops have generated lots of new members and our reach into the schools through the Maverick Challenge helps expose students to the chamber, and more importantly, to business ownership as a career path.  That is how we are deepening a community wide culture of entrepreneurship.

ACCE –  You have quite a portfolio of successful programs, any advice for other chamber leaders?

Amber – Be patient and use what you have.  We started small and grew all these areas in line with our strategic vision.  I really love doing this work.  Every day I’m out to create win-win situations for businesses and the community at large, it’s a great feeling.

To learn more about Amber, CEDC and all their entrepreneur support programs, join ACCE in Milwaukee for the 2010 Convention.  Amber will be leading a workshop on building a culture of entrepreneurship.

Resources Spotlight

• Iowa Grayfield Development Incentive
  Many states have incentive programs for Brownfield sites, most mirror the EPA’s Brownfields program.  But what about real estate that is blighted and obsolete but isn’t contaminated enough for Brownfield designation?  Iowa is helping develop those sites and have coined the term “Grayfield.”  Follow this link for info on Iowa’s Brownfield/Grayfield Tax Credit Program.

• Strong Performers in a Down Economy
  A report released this month by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program ranked America’s top 100 metro regions by economic performance.  There were noticeable clusters of high performing regions in Oklahoma, Texas, and upstate New York.  The rankings were based on change in employment, unemployment rate, gross metro product, and housing prices.  Click for interactive maps or full report results.

• Regional Networks Report: The Case of Leadership Philadelphia's Connector Project
  (from the ACCE Samples and Resources Library)
  While chambers of commerce have proven that networks of business people can effectively solve problems, many chamber executives have pointed to a lack of common purpose and weak relationships across sectors of communities as a major obstacle to achieving regional goals.  The Leadership Philadelphia Connector case study presents a model for building multi-sector connectivity.

• Business Innovation Zone (BIZ) of Central Iowa
  BIZ is the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s in-house business accelerator.  The entrepreneurial support program is formed in partnership with the Ames Chamber, Iowa State University, Des Moines Area Community College, and Iowa Department of Economic Development.  It functions primarily as one stop shop to connect start-up firms with the resources and opportunities they need.  Click HERE to learn more.

Education & Events

National SBIR Conference, Hartford, CT - April 21 - 23, 2010
All 11 federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) agencies are expected to come to this national conference.  Each agency will provide an overview of their unique programs -- as well as provide strategies to win SBIR grants.  Click for HERE for more information

Headlines

• Philadelphia R&D Incentives
  In a speech to the Greater Philadelphia (PA) Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Michael Nutter announced that his office would implement two new tax policies conceived “to retain research-and-development firms and the growing video-gaming software industry.” Click to learn more about Philly’s High-Tech ambitions.

• Oregonians Vote For Taxes
  This January voters in Oregon approved two ballot measures that amount to a $700 million tax hike.  While the decision to increase taxes was made via popular vote, the burden for generating new tax revenue will fall primarily on Oregon's businesses and business owners.  You owe it to your business community to know about this issue, check out the ACCE Policy Clearinghouse Blog to get started.

• St. Louis Cluster Strategy (jump to page 52)
  St. Louis recently undertook a competitive analysis process to target the region’s cluster approach to economic development.  What emerged from the work was not only a refined cluster based approach to attraction but a renewed focus on existing economic assets.  Click to access St. Louis Commerce magazine, to read the article jump to page 52.

• Budget Challenges Threaten Pre-K
  A report released recently by the Southern Education Foundation finds that Southern states are at risk of losing ground in early childhood education due to substantial cuts to pre-kindergarten programs.

• Rethinking Detroit
  Discussions are underway to rethink land use and development patterns in Detroit.  Learn how the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Project is getting involved in a controversial proposal to shrink Detroit.