And doesn't that make it less effective?
(I'm borrowing this from my previous post to expand on it a bit, as it was the topic of two conversations today.)
As a board member of the EDP, I supported merging the EDP into the newly formed Chamber Coalition 4 years ago. But it would be a NEW Chamber Coalition, with a new focus and executive director, to ensure viability and effectiveness of the EDP. We deliberately changed the name of the organization to signal a break from the previous "Corvallis Chamber of Commerce", and to signal the newly combined boards intent to work collaboratively across the community to help represent business.
Viability: The Corvallis-Benton EDP had 1.5 employees, and spent way too much of its meager budget and staff on overhead activities, fund raising, and too little on direct services and the "work" of economic gardening or recruiting. In that environment it was very difficult to be effective, and show a positive return on investment in terms of creating businesses and jobs. In addition, the EDP had "no" resources to develop and maintain a web site, we had no email list or donation management capabilities, we paid independently for accounting phone, internet and rent support. It didn't have critical mass.
By merging with the Corvallis Chamber, we were able to focus almost all of the Economic Development public and private funds on the work of economic development. In the new organization, rent, computers, internet, back end infrastructure (registration systems, web site, accounting, and fund raising infrastructure) are shared services with the Chamber Coalition. Economic Development is saving $1200 a month in rent alone, that can now be spent on salaries for direct services.
It was not without its risks and downsides, but it made sense. Corvallis has too many business organizations, and they don't work together and collaborate often enough.
To mitigate the concerns about the merger, the EDP board and Chamber Board agreed to several important things, and bound the new Coalition board to them:
1. There is clear and transparent accounting of all Economic Development spending from both public and private sources, and the details of spending are reported monthly on a separate P/L. Economic Development does not and has not subsidized Chamber membership activities, and in fact, it is quite the opposite, the Chamber supports economic development.
2. We would maintain a separate Economic Development committee that would work with the Contracts with the city and county, and would direct and aid the work of the economic development director.
3. We would continue our commitment to align Economic Development work with the Prosperity that Fits plan developed by the city, and would continue our commitments to drive those activities where we took a lead role.
I joined the Coalition board for the first time when the organizations merged to keep track of these commitments and ensure that the Economic Development function maintain its integrity and effectiveness, and I think it has done so.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Why am I involved in helping small businesses?
I got involved in Corvallis Economic Development, and in particular looking at what it takes to grow jobs, because I saw what was going to happen to Corvallis with HP downsizing (I believe they have gone from more than 8000 jobs to less than 1500 jobs -no data is available), HP contractor's downsizing (Nypro, ATS, Videx etc) and OSU funding changes- leaving more "soft money jobs", and felt like I had to give my talents to creating an alternative future:
- Where Corvallis wasn't dependent on one major private employer, and the rest government and service jobs,
- Where Corvallis citizens had options about where to work, and as one business downsized or shifted, there were other businesses growing, and able to hire folks, rather than necessitating that they leave town,
- Where the schools were vibrant because Corvallis had living wage jobs that attracted and retained families.
- Where we had enough public sector employment paying property taxes to support the services and quality of life that we so value.
I've been volunteering large amounts of time for 7 years in creating a small-business "ecosystem" where the support needed for 1, 2, 10 or 50 person businesses can find the resources, connections and financing they need to make a go of it. The goal is to have 100 1 person businesses, with 10 becoming 100 person businesses, and perhaps leading to 1 1000 person business. In this model, we don't have to change our values and quality of life, but we can change and create a better future for our community.
------ Background------ more about me.
I left HP seven years ago (before they started downsizing). I had been at HP Corvallis for 14 years, and had paid very little attention to the rest of the Corvallis community and economy. I was blissfully inside the HP bubble. Then several things happened, I moved away and came back, I left my HP job and started my own business, I learned about the loss of jobs in Corvallis, and what it meant for the future of our schools, and I got involved with a group of folks trying to start new start-ups with existing talent and resources, rather than focusing on trying to get a new HP in town.... with that new perspective I got passionate about choosing between two futures, and decided to actively work for the better future.
Here's a rough order of how I got as passionate as I am about what we need to do to create a thriving community of small businesses in Corvallis.
1. I left HP, willingly, for personal reasons, and moved to a suburb of Boston for a year. By leaving Corvallis I realized what a unique and amazing community we have.
2. I got interested in entrepreneurship and start ups. I was nearby MIT and Harvard, so I set about learning from "the best" about how new business started, grew and thrived -esp MIT, as Cambridge has many parallels to Corvallis.
3. I returned to Corvallis, and learned about the population changes that were/are threatening the strength of our local schools (through work the school board did on long term planning, note: we are barely able to justify two high schools, and enrollments are declining at all schools)
4. I started my own business- putting some of the theory into practice, (and learning that its really a lot more difficult than it sounds)
5. I volunteered with a group working on Commercializing Oregon Research (CORC), and brought marketing, sales and go-to-market perspectives to that team. The goal was bringing research out of university to start new businesses.
6. I moved my business into the new Business Enterprise Center, and started working with start-up and small technology clients to help them in marketing, but learning that many of their issues were, like mine very basic, and very broad. Finding the right resources while keeping your business running is amazingly difficult, especially for those who are technologists working to commercialize an invention, rather than business background folks.
7. I asked to be, and was appointed to the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) board by the Benton County Commissioners to help support and focus the EDP"s efforts to start, grow and nuture local businesses (called Economic Gardening or Economic Ecosystem), as opposed to supporting classic Economic Development, which is usually focused on recruiting large corporations.
8. As a board member of the EDP, I supported merging the EDP into the newly formed Chamber Coalition with a new focus and executive director to ensure viability of the EDP. The edp had 1.5 employees, and spent way too much of its meager budget on overhead, fund raising, and too little on direct services and the "work" of economic gardening or recruiting. By merging, we were able to focus almost all of the Economic Development public and private funds on the work, with Rent, computers, internet, back end infrastructure and fund raising infrastructure being shared and supported services with the Chamber Coalition.
9. I have served for 3 years on the ChamberCoalition board, stewarding the Economic development work to make sure the commitment made with the EDP merger was kept. Since then we have helped 100's of businesses, helped create 3 businesses (at least) of greater than 10 employees, influenced or helped create 100 or more jobs, and have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment capital into Corvallis. We ran the first, highly successful Angel Conference in the willamette Valley.
90% of this work and success is due to the efforts of John Sechrest. It's the right kind of job growth for Corvallis, and we'd be fools to let him go.
- Where Corvallis wasn't dependent on one major private employer, and the rest government and service jobs,
- Where Corvallis citizens had options about where to work, and as one business downsized or shifted, there were other businesses growing, and able to hire folks, rather than necessitating that they leave town,
- Where the schools were vibrant because Corvallis had living wage jobs that attracted and retained families.
- Where we had enough public sector employment paying property taxes to support the services and quality of life that we so value.
I've been volunteering large amounts of time for 7 years in creating a small-business "ecosystem" where the support needed for 1, 2, 10 or 50 person businesses can find the resources, connections and financing they need to make a go of it. The goal is to have 100 1 person businesses, with 10 becoming 100 person businesses, and perhaps leading to 1 1000 person business. In this model, we don't have to change our values and quality of life, but we can change and create a better future for our community.
------ Background------ more about me.
I left HP seven years ago (before they started downsizing). I had been at HP Corvallis for 14 years, and had paid very little attention to the rest of the Corvallis community and economy. I was blissfully inside the HP bubble. Then several things happened, I moved away and came back, I left my HP job and started my own business, I learned about the loss of jobs in Corvallis, and what it meant for the future of our schools, and I got involved with a group of folks trying to start new start-ups with existing talent and resources, rather than focusing on trying to get a new HP in town.... with that new perspective I got passionate about choosing between two futures, and decided to actively work for the better future.
Here's a rough order of how I got as passionate as I am about what we need to do to create a thriving community of small businesses in Corvallis.
1. I left HP, willingly, for personal reasons, and moved to a suburb of Boston for a year. By leaving Corvallis I realized what a unique and amazing community we have.
2. I got interested in entrepreneurship and start ups. I was nearby MIT and Harvard, so I set about learning from "the best" about how new business started, grew and thrived -esp MIT, as Cambridge has many parallels to Corvallis.
3. I returned to Corvallis, and learned about the population changes that were/are threatening the strength of our local schools (through work the school board did on long term planning, note: we are barely able to justify two high schools, and enrollments are declining at all schools)
4. I started my own business- putting some of the theory into practice, (and learning that its really a lot more difficult than it sounds)
5. I volunteered with a group working on Commercializing Oregon Research (CORC), and brought marketing, sales and go-to-market perspectives to that team. The goal was bringing research out of university to start new businesses.
6. I moved my business into the new Business Enterprise Center, and started working with start-up and small technology clients to help them in marketing, but learning that many of their issues were, like mine very basic, and very broad. Finding the right resources while keeping your business running is amazingly difficult, especially for those who are technologists working to commercialize an invention, rather than business background folks.
7. I asked to be, and was appointed to the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) board by the Benton County Commissioners to help support and focus the EDP"s efforts to start, grow and nuture local businesses (called Economic Gardening or Economic Ecosystem), as opposed to supporting classic Economic Development, which is usually focused on recruiting large corporations.
8. As a board member of the EDP, I supported merging the EDP into the newly formed Chamber Coalition with a new focus and executive director to ensure viability of the EDP. The edp had 1.5 employees, and spent way too much of its meager budget on overhead, fund raising, and too little on direct services and the "work" of economic gardening or recruiting. By merging, we were able to focus almost all of the Economic Development public and private funds on the work, with Rent, computers, internet, back end infrastructure and fund raising infrastructure being shared and supported services with the Chamber Coalition.
9. I have served for 3 years on the ChamberCoalition board, stewarding the Economic development work to make sure the commitment made with the EDP merger was kept. Since then we have helped 100's of businesses, helped create 3 businesses (at least) of greater than 10 employees, influenced or helped create 100 or more jobs, and have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment capital into Corvallis. We ran the first, highly successful Angel Conference in the willamette Valley.
90% of this work and success is due to the efforts of John Sechrest. It's the right kind of job growth for Corvallis, and we'd be fools to let him go.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
What can You do to help support John and Econ. Dev?
WRITE 1. have folks write letters to their city councilors and county commissioners with a specific, personal story of how John helped their business, and the results that came from it, and then recommend continuing funding support for Economic development
SHOW UP AND SPEAK 2. Encourage people to come to the Upcoming city budget Meetings- May 11 is most important, as there will be an opportunity for public testimony there.
May 4, 2010 City Manager will Present the Budget
7:00 PM
Fire Station Main Meeting Room
400 NW Harrison
May 11, 2010 (Public Hearing- Opportunity to give short testimony)
7:00 PM
OSU Lasells Stewart Center - Construction & Engineering Auditorium
875 SW 26th Street
May 13, 2010 (deliberations- be present, they know you're listening, it changes the conversation)
7:00 PM
Fire Station Main Meeting Room
400 NW Harrison
GO PUBLIC 3. write a letter to the editor support economic development and Johns' work-- or post a note to your facebook or blog page, or tweet about the upcoming meetings. (you can find some talking points on my blog at www.clelandmarketing.blogspot.com) or chime in on www.welovecorvallis.com, where there are few folks who are at best skeptics, and at worst venomous towards Economic Development.
CONTRIBUTE 4. make a contribution to private fundraising for John's position...you can make a check to the Corvallis Benton Economic Development or make an online contribution at the Chamber Coalition's web site. http://www.cbchambercoalition.com/index.php/econdev/edreport.html
SPREAD THE WORD and finally, join me in making some noise.
There are so many in Corvallis who don't understand A. what economic development is. and A1. Think that the word "development" only means bad things... B. that private sector jobs are what pay for public sector jobs and services through property taxes.
Tell others who may have been impacted by one of John's many programs, or who care about the business environment in Corvallis to get engaged, because if we don't we won't have a say. and If we don't have a say, its pretty clear there won't be any resources to build Jobs and Businesses in Corvallis.
SHOW UP AND SPEAK 2. Encourage people to come to the Upcoming city budget Meetings- May 11 is most important, as there will be an opportunity for public testimony there.
May 4, 2010 City Manager will Present the Budget
7:00 PM
Fire Station Main Meeting Room
400 NW Harrison
May 11, 2010 (Public Hearing- Opportunity to give short testimony)
7:00 PM
OSU Lasells Stewart Center - Construction & Engineering Auditorium
875 SW 26th Street
May 13, 2010 (deliberations- be present, they know you're listening, it changes the conversation)
7:00 PM
Fire Station Main Meeting Room
400 NW Harrison
GO PUBLIC 3. write a letter to the editor support economic development and Johns' work-- or post a note to your facebook or blog page, or tweet about the upcoming meetings. (you can find some talking points on my blog at www.clelandmarketing.blogspot.com) or chime in on www.welovecorvallis.com, where there are few folks who are at best skeptics, and at worst venomous towards Economic Development.
CONTRIBUTE 4. make a contribution to private fundraising for John's position...you can make a check to the Corvallis Benton Economic Development or make an online contribution at the Chamber Coalition's web site. http://www.cbchambercoalition.com/index.php/econdev/edreport.html
SPREAD THE WORD and finally, join me in making some noise.
There are so many in Corvallis who don't understand A. what economic development is. and A1. Think that the word "development" only means bad things... B. that private sector jobs are what pay for public sector jobs and services through property taxes.
Tell others who may have been impacted by one of John's many programs, or who care about the business environment in Corvallis to get engaged, because if we don't we won't have a say. and If we don't have a say, its pretty clear there won't be any resources to build Jobs and Businesses in Corvallis.
Monday, April 26, 2010
What if we didn't Invest in Job Creation?
Major Consequences for Corvallis/Benton County. Economic Development Funding at Risk.
Has John Sechrest’s work touched your business or you professionally in any way? Does he create value for the money the City/County has invested in his salary? Would Corvallis be better off without his position, his work, and his personal enthusiasm?
Its all about jobs, employment and the economy. Time is of the essence.
The economy is down. Unemployment is up.
Corvallis and Benton County need new business and new living wage jobs. John Sechrest and Aaron Edwards, working under the banner of the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition, have been working hard, with good results, to help create and bring those jobs to our community *. But their own jobs- and the funding that supports economic development in Corvallis and Benton County- are in Jeopardy. The consequences will be serious.
No Economic Development, No New Jobs.
Benton County and the City of Corvallis allocate funding for economic development. In the past, a small part of those funds have paid for John’s and part of Aaron’s salary via a contract for Economic Development with the Chamber Coalition. Now the City and County are facing tough budget situations, and the economic development budgets may be cut, and with it, they will cut the funding that pays for John and Aaron to create and recruit new jobs to Corvallis and Benton County.
These decisions will be made soon. The City Council Budget commission will meet May 4th to hear the proposed city budget. May 11 is a public hearing (come give testimony). The County Commissioners are finalizing budgets this month. They need to hear from you now.
If we lose the funding for Econ Dev, and with it, John and Aaron, we are at high risk of losing both of their jobs (barring an amazing private fundraising effort, which we have begun). The effects of these losses could be devastating to our efforts to start, grow and expand local businesses like yours. This would be a real blow at a time when we should be focusing on creating jobs, and reaping the harvests of the new business seeds that John has sown for 4 years.
Please contact your Corvallis city councilor, contact your Benton County commissioner, and let them know we need to invest in growing jobs when the economy is down. It only makes sense. Also let them know what John, Aaron and The Chamber’s economic development team have done for you, someone you know, and the greater business community. Encourage them to support some level of funding for the continuation of those positions.
Katherine Cleland
Board Member, Economic Development Committee, Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition
Attachment: List of city councilors, List of County Commissioners
List of city councilors and their emails see www.corvallis.or.us and search city council. Hyperlinks will open up an email form from the city.
For a list of County Commissioners and their contact information see www http://www.co.benton.or.us/boc/index.php
To send and email to the entire board: bocinfo@co.benton.or.us
Annabelle.E.JARAMILLO@Co.Benton.OR.US
jay.dixon@co.benton.or.us
Linda.L.MODRELL@Co.Benton.OR.US
*For details on jobs created, businesses supported, please see our past economic development report go to
http://www.corvallischamber.com/index.php/econdev/edreport.html
Has John Sechrest’s work touched your business or you professionally in any way? Does he create value for the money the City/County has invested in his salary? Would Corvallis be better off without his position, his work, and his personal enthusiasm?
Its all about jobs, employment and the economy. Time is of the essence.
The economy is down. Unemployment is up.
Corvallis and Benton County need new business and new living wage jobs. John Sechrest and Aaron Edwards, working under the banner of the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition, have been working hard, with good results, to help create and bring those jobs to our community *. But their own jobs- and the funding that supports economic development in Corvallis and Benton County- are in Jeopardy. The consequences will be serious.
No Economic Development, No New Jobs.
Benton County and the City of Corvallis allocate funding for economic development. In the past, a small part of those funds have paid for John’s and part of Aaron’s salary via a contract for Economic Development with the Chamber Coalition. Now the City and County are facing tough budget situations, and the economic development budgets may be cut, and with it, they will cut the funding that pays for John and Aaron to create and recruit new jobs to Corvallis and Benton County.
These decisions will be made soon. The City Council Budget commission will meet May 4th to hear the proposed city budget. May 11 is a public hearing (come give testimony). The County Commissioners are finalizing budgets this month. They need to hear from you now.
If we lose the funding for Econ Dev, and with it, John and Aaron, we are at high risk of losing both of their jobs (barring an amazing private fundraising effort, which we have begun). The effects of these losses could be devastating to our efforts to start, grow and expand local businesses like yours. This would be a real blow at a time when we should be focusing on creating jobs, and reaping the harvests of the new business seeds that John has sown for 4 years.
Please contact your Corvallis city councilor, contact your Benton County commissioner, and let them know we need to invest in growing jobs when the economy is down. It only makes sense. Also let them know what John, Aaron and The Chamber’s economic development team have done for you, someone you know, and the greater business community. Encourage them to support some level of funding for the continuation of those positions.
Katherine Cleland
Board Member, Economic Development Committee, Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition
Attachment: List of city councilors, List of County Commissioners
List of city councilors and their emails see www.corvallis.or.us and search city council. Hyperlinks will open up an email form from the city.
- Mayor - Charles C. Tomlinson
Ward 1 - Mark O'Brien
Ward 2 - Patricia Daniels
Ward 3 - Richard Hervey
Ward 4 - Dan Brown
Ward 5 - Mike Beilstein
Ward 6 - Joel Hirsch
Ward 7 - Jeanne Raymond
Ward 8 - David Hamby
Ward 9 - Hal Brauner
For a list of County Commissioners and their contact information see www http://www.co.benton.or.us/boc/index.php
To send and email to the entire board: bocinfo@co.benton.or.us
Annabelle.E.JARAMILLO@Co.Benton.OR.US
jay.dixon@co.benton.or.us
Linda.L.MODRELL@Co.Benton.OR.US
*For details on jobs created, businesses supported, please see our past economic development report go to
http://www.corvallischamber.com/index.php/econdev/edreport.html
Friday, April 23, 2010
Bright Light in Job Creation, Econ Development
Things look Dim Now
The failure that Dan Brown writes about in economic development in his white paper is a systemic failure that is caused by the chronic lack of funding and attention to Economic Development in this community. The lack of private sector businesses and jobs to support the current property tax expectations is a challenging situation, and one that will take us a long time to set to rights.
So where are the bright spots?
One of the bright spots we have in ED in Corvallis and Benton County is John Sechrest. This past year the city council saw fit to fund economic develop through John's and Aaron's work to the tune of $73,000. Prior to that the funding was about $38,000. I cannot think of a more highly leveraged way to use between $38,000 and $73,000 of city and county Economic Development money than the work that John has done and completed with the Chamber board's and volunteers' help. Not only is John prolific in the work, but the Chamber coalition has matched city funding with private contributions to be able to expand on the city's investment. The return on the investment is a hundred fold, as noted below.
Real Return on Economic Development Investment
For the amount the city paid the Chamber Coalition in the contract for Economic Development this past year, we can barely hire one FTE. For that one FTE, our goal over the past 4 years has been to start, grow and expand traded sector businesses. John Sechrest has been very effective in fulfilling that mission.
He has effectively helped create hundreds of jobs through recruiting and nurturing technology startups, including bringing Perpetua to Corvallis.
He created the Willamette Angel Conference, which alone brought more than $160,000 of new capital into business, $125,000 of which went to a local Corvallis business, CenterSpace Software, which has subsequently hired 8 more employees.
Add to that Food Biz Boot Camp, Biz boot camp, and the work he did on WIN and that's a lot of new businesses at the seed to sprout stage.
That's a lot of value added.
He has connected hundreds of entrepreneurs, start ups and small businesses with talent, service providers, peer support groups and resources to launch or expand their ventures.
He is in constant motion connecting Corvallis economy and businesses to the entire willamette valley, and to key Portland resources, including venture capital.
Where is the data?
The monthly economic development reports give a more detailed picture about all of the work and successes that John, and the Chamber Coalition team have achieved... He and his work are a key mechanism that is helping develop a new and vibrant base of professional and skilled jobs for the community, and it would be a travesty to cut that out of the budget when new private sector, property tax generating businesses and jobs are what the city needs most right now. Thanks for serving on the city council and representing a very rational approach to what is important to maintain a vibrant community.
The failure that Dan Brown writes about in economic development in his white paper is a systemic failure that is caused by the chronic lack of funding and attention to Economic Development in this community. The lack of private sector businesses and jobs to support the current property tax expectations is a challenging situation, and one that will take us a long time to set to rights.
So where are the bright spots?
One of the bright spots we have in ED in Corvallis and Benton County is John Sechrest. This past year the city council saw fit to fund economic develop through John's and Aaron's work to the tune of $73,000. Prior to that the funding was about $38,000. I cannot think of a more highly leveraged way to use between $38,000 and $73,000 of city and county Economic Development money than the work that John has done and completed with the Chamber board's and volunteers' help. Not only is John prolific in the work, but the Chamber coalition has matched city funding with private contributions to be able to expand on the city's investment. The return on the investment is a hundred fold, as noted below.
Real Return on Economic Development Investment
For the amount the city paid the Chamber Coalition in the contract for Economic Development this past year, we can barely hire one FTE. For that one FTE, our goal over the past 4 years has been to start, grow and expand traded sector businesses. John Sechrest has been very effective in fulfilling that mission.
He has effectively helped create hundreds of jobs through recruiting and nurturing technology startups, including bringing Perpetua to Corvallis.
He created the Willamette Angel Conference, which alone brought more than $160,000 of new capital into business, $125,000 of which went to a local Corvallis business, CenterSpace Software, which has subsequently hired 8 more employees.
Add to that Food Biz Boot Camp, Biz boot camp, and the work he did on WIN and that's a lot of new businesses at the seed to sprout stage.
That's a lot of value added.
He has connected hundreds of entrepreneurs, start ups and small businesses with talent, service providers, peer support groups and resources to launch or expand their ventures.
He is in constant motion connecting Corvallis economy and businesses to the entire willamette valley, and to key Portland resources, including venture capital.
Where is the data?
The monthly economic development reports give a more detailed picture about all of the work and successes that John, and the Chamber Coalition team have achieved... He and his work are a key mechanism that is helping develop a new and vibrant base of professional and skilled jobs for the community, and it would be a travesty to cut that out of the budget when new private sector, property tax generating businesses and jobs are what the city needs most right now. Thanks for serving on the city council and representing a very rational approach to what is important to maintain a vibrant community.
What do other folks say about John Sechrest's work? Good things.
The impact of one individual.
John has not only done huge amounts for growing jobs in Corvallis, but he's done a huge amount to put Corvallis on the State, and pacific NW map for entrepreneurs, start ups and most importantly, angel investors and venture capitalists.
He brings a venture capitalist to Corvallis at least once a month for the SwOT
presentations, where start ups are mentored and given advice by professionals.
He links the Willamette Angel conference and other start up work to all of the
movers and shakers in the state. He brought a bus load of tech savvy types
from Portland down to Corvallis for last year's WIN (Willamette Innovators
Network), and he personally keeps us on the radar of all of the investors in
the region.
To give some outside perspective on John's contributions to Corvallis. Here is
what one thought leader said about John
Oregon. Silicon Florist Blog Guest Post
In addition, last year he won accolades for Corvallis and the Corvallis-Benton
Chamber Coalition by winning the state 2009 Chamber Outstanding Achievement
Award, at the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) Annual Conference at
Eagle Crest Resort on October 29, 2009. The OSCC only gives two awards annually:
William R. Haas Executive of the Year
Chamber Outstanding Achievement of the Year
THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recognizes an Oregon Chamber for a program or
initiative that elevates their community. The award highlights innovation; impact in the community; collaboration; and leadership.
THE CHAMBER COALITION was nominated for the work led by Economic Development Director, John Sechrest, involving the development of programs supporting the Business Ecosystem Model, specifically for the work on the Willamette Angel Conference (WAC). The Willamette Angel Conference sought to improve three distinct areas of support for startup companies:
1. To improve the ability for startups to seek capital and pitch their
businesses for angel and venture funding.
2. To expand the number of investors by providing education and coaching
to potential investors.
3. To create an angel opportunity in the Midvalley area increasing the
investment in local angel funding.
Isn't this exactly the kind of economic development Corvallis needs and wants? This is value for Corvallis' investment in creating a climate that is welcoming for entrepreneurs, start-ups and creatives to help build a vibrant, diversified economy with private sector jobs.
John has not only done huge amounts for growing jobs in Corvallis, but he's done a huge amount to put Corvallis on the State, and pacific NW map for entrepreneurs, start ups and most importantly, angel investors and venture capitalists.
He brings a venture capitalist to Corvallis at least once a month for the SwOT
presentations, where start ups are mentored and given advice by professionals.
He links the Willamette Angel conference and other start up work to all of the
movers and shakers in the state. He brought a bus load of tech savvy types
from Portland down to Corvallis for last year's WIN (Willamette Innovators
Network), and he personally keeps us on the radar of all of the investors in
the region.
To give some outside perspective on John's contributions to Corvallis. Here is
what one thought leader said about John
" John Sechrest has put together what is, arguably, the most comprehensive collection of Oregon Angel events and organizations in existence. It's an honor to have the opportunity to publish this guest post."He published the Definitive Guide to Angel Investing in
Oregon. Silicon Florist Blog Guest Post
In addition, last year he won accolades for Corvallis and the Corvallis-Benton
Chamber Coalition by winning the state 2009 Chamber Outstanding Achievement
Award, at the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) Annual Conference at
Eagle Crest Resort on October 29, 2009. The OSCC only gives two awards annually:
William R. Haas Executive of the Year
Chamber Outstanding Achievement of the Year
THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recognizes an Oregon Chamber for a program or
initiative that elevates their community. The award highlights innovation; impact in the community; collaboration; and leadership.
THE CHAMBER COALITION was nominated for the work led by Economic Development Director, John Sechrest, involving the development of programs supporting the Business Ecosystem Model, specifically for the work on the Willamette Angel Conference (WAC). The Willamette Angel Conference sought to improve three distinct areas of support for startup companies:
1. To improve the ability for startups to seek capital and pitch their
businesses for angel and venture funding.
2. To expand the number of investors by providing education and coaching
to potential investors.
3. To create an angel opportunity in the Midvalley area increasing the
investment in local angel funding.
Isn't this exactly the kind of economic development Corvallis needs and wants? This is value for Corvallis' investment in creating a climate that is welcoming for entrepreneurs, start-ups and creatives to help build a vibrant, diversified economy with private sector jobs.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Why support Economic Development, when other departments are at risk?
I've been asked the question via email, by both a city employee, and a former city counselor, "Why support Economic Development and job creation, when other departments are likely to be cut."
Here's what I told them.
"Given that the budget shortfall is due to lower property tax collections due to less businesses paying property tax, you'd think that Corvallis and the city council in particular would be working to grow the business base, in line with the city's values, so that property taxes will grow, and we'll be able to support the services we value. That is exactly what John Secrest does, and very effectively.
In a time when property taxes are falling, and unemployment is rising, Economic development is not expendable. To use a farming analogy, It is like eating the seed grain, so you don't even have something to plant the next year...
Perhaps there's the perception that since it's a "contract' service, its less important than other city expenditures, but we have only ONE Person doing the economic development job that John is doing, and what they get for the contract is far more efficiency at a lower cost per FTE than any city employee.
I am, and have been fully committed to economic vitality in Corvallis for the past 6 years, as have many of the local business leaders who saw the coming decline in manufacturing jobs, especially HP. Those of us working on the Economic Development committee (as dedicated volunteers) know that having a vibrant, and diverse employment base generates the tax revenue that supports the services we all value hugely... They, and I, want to see the funds available for maintenance of those wonderful services and your whole team...and this is the only way I know that the city can accomplish that goal.
Please pass this on to other city employees who received my initial email...as I don't have direct access to them, but I want them all to know, this is our, and my, best effort to create a community that can maintain and support the important services. "
Here's what I told them.
"Given that the budget shortfall is due to lower property tax collections due to less businesses paying property tax, you'd think that Corvallis and the city council in particular would be working to grow the business base, in line with the city's values, so that property taxes will grow, and we'll be able to support the services we value. That is exactly what John Secrest does, and very effectively.
In a time when property taxes are falling, and unemployment is rising, Economic development is not expendable. To use a farming analogy, It is like eating the seed grain, so you don't even have something to plant the next year...
Perhaps there's the perception that since it's a "contract' service, its less important than other city expenditures, but we have only ONE Person doing the economic development job that John is doing, and what they get for the contract is far more efficiency at a lower cost per FTE than any city employee.
I am, and have been fully committed to economic vitality in Corvallis for the past 6 years, as have many of the local business leaders who saw the coming decline in manufacturing jobs, especially HP. Those of us working on the Economic Development committee (as dedicated volunteers) know that having a vibrant, and diverse employment base generates the tax revenue that supports the services we all value hugely... They, and I, want to see the funds available for maintenance of those wonderful services and your whole team...and this is the only way I know that the city can accomplish that goal.
Please pass this on to other city employees who received my initial email...as I don't have direct access to them, but I want them all to know, this is our, and my, best effort to create a community that can maintain and support the important services. "
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