For the week of October 21 thru October 27, 1998  

Hailey strives for strong economy


By AMY SPINDLER
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey Chamber of Commerce economic development committee has teamed up with the Idaho Department of Commerce to promote economic development in Hailey.

The Hailey City Council passed a resolution Monday to support the efforts of the committee and the community to foster economic viability and to pursue certification as a Gem Community through the Idaho Department of Commerce.

In Idaho, 82 cities are Gem Communities, which means they have developed a strategic economic-development plan and are working to put their goals into action.

The Department of Commerce provides technical assistance, resources and expertise to cities that are working to achieve Gem Community status.

"This is the structure we need--we could sit and brainstorm forever and ever," said Hailey Chamber of Commerce executive director Sallie Hanson, who has lived in Hailey for 26 years and worked as executive director for two years.

"Our goal is the expansion and retention of businesses in town," Hanson said "That is the focal point. If we can show we have successful businesses here, other businesses will want to come here."

Certification is a lengthy process, and the community must complete several action plans:

·  An organizational plan to define the community’s goals and profile of the city. That plan can be done through focus groups, community conversations and surveys. The chamber completed a survey of the business community last spring.

·  An infrastructure improvement plan, which includes not only public services, but health services, housing, education, transportation, recreation and cultural events. IDC offers an infrastructure inventory plan to assist cities in identifying their economic strengths and weaknesses, and in exploring funding alternatives to maintain and upgrade the system.

"I was surprised to learn that libraries and parks are included as infrastructure," said Hanson.

  • A business retention and expansion plan.

  • An economic diversification plan, which is in the process of attracting new business to the area.

"We want to see new businesses," Hanson said. "Competition breeds a new economy, but there’s a right time and right place for new business too."

  • A short-term plan that identifies top priorities.

  • A community profile.

The chamber’s survey in May of 62 businesses addressed the strengths and weaknesses of the business community, and solicited ideas for promoting business.

A majority of business owners that rent (19 of 26) said they felt the rent was too high, but 65 percent said business is better than a year ago, and 54 percent of the owners have been in business for more than two years.

Business owners support more events in Hailey, and were open to expanding business hours, and diversifying their inventory to meet their customers’ needs.

Almost 50 percent of business owners who responded said they have a difficult time finding and retaining employees because of lack of affordable housing. Business owners that felt there is a lack of affordable housing employ 47 percent of the year-round workers, and 71 percent of seasonal employees.

Hanson also identified housing as one of her chief concerns for the city. However, she is optimistic.

"We have so many strengths," she said. "We have a community that gets involved when there’s a need. We also have dedicated leaders that will take the bull by the horns and lead us to where we need to go."

 

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