The Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting Dec. 6 at Grace Community Church in Falcon. There were 40 to 50 members and guests in attendance. We encourage all businesses in the Eastern Plains area to attend and help us grow and support our local community. After brief introductions by each attendee, the guest speaker, Ben Hummel of Hummel Investments LLC, presented information on a development he is involved with.Hummel is trying to bring a large retail development to the Falcon area ó Falcon Marketplace is a planned 36-acre development at the corner of Woodmen Road and Meridian Road. The current proposed tenants of the Falcon Marketplace include King Soopers, Panda Express, Starbucks and other dining, health care and fuel options.The plan was originally submitted in December 2016 to the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, but failed to get approval when three out of five commissioners voted against the proposal. To get back in front of the BOCC, Hummel had to present a plan with ìmaterial changes.î Hummel believes they have met that requirement and are waiting for further comments by the BOCC. At this point, it appears that the new proposal will be in front of the BOCC Jan. 23. The meeting will take place at 200 S. Cascade Ave. in Colorado Springs at 9 a.m. The chamber board and Hummel Investments encourages anyone able to attend to show support for this development, as it will bring great retail opportunities to Falcon and surrounding areas. For the latest information about the Falcon Marketplace, check out http://falconmarketplace.comWayne Williams, secretary of state for Colorado, also attended the chamber meeting.The board presented Jake Skifstad of Shield616 with a check for $2,200. This donation included contributions by Cricket Roofing, Black Forest Cards and Falcon Broadband plus a portion from the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce. The donation will go a long way to outfitting two deputies in El Paso County with the necessary protective equipment they need to serve and protect the citizens of El Paso County.Upcoming speakers:January ñ There will not be a general membership meeting in January, to allow our members to celebrate the holidays with their families.Feb. 7 ñ The breakfast sponsor will beAmerican Legion Post 2008; featured speakers are Jeremy Kniffen of Liberty Tax Service in Falcon and Candace Avis of Avis Accounting and Income Tax Professionals. They will discuss the recent changes to the tax code and what it means to members and their businesses.If you or your organization would be interested in being the featured speaker for one of the upcoming chamber of commerce meetings, please contact the chamber board at board@easternplainschamber.com.The Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce meets the first Wednesday of each month, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Grace Community Church, 9475 Grace Church View in Falcon.
