When an individual or business owner is researching an unfamiliar city or area, his or her first stop is often a chamber of commerce. Chambers, while supporting businesses, also serve as a hub of information for a community. There’s talk among locals that a chamber is just what Falcon needs.When State Farm Insurance Agent Scott Carmack established his business in Falcon, he didn’t need a crystal ball to predict that a chamber of commerce might someday be a hot prospect amidst a rapidly growing area. To ensure that he would always have a “stake” in a chamber, Carmack purchased two domain names identifying a potential Falcon Chamber of Commerce: www.falconchamber.com and www.falconcolorado.us.To Carmack, a chamber might serve as a catalyst for business, while providing a sense of community in a burgeoning Falcon.As a business owner, Carmack is pro-growth; but when he set up shop in Falcon, he said he felt a “cold shoulder” from a majority of people.”Most everyone I met was about no growth,” he said, adding that in some ways it was understandable because of Falcon’s explosive growth in a short time.”I also recognized what seemed to be lacking in Falcon was a lightning rod for all the groups.” Although many groups have been established in Falcon, from the Falcon Business League to a myriad of service groups, Carmack said the groups are “fragmented,” and everyone could benefit from a core organization that promoted and supported all of the groups. “I recognize a chamber as the lightning rod for businesses and the Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, etc.,” he said. “The chamber could be a central place for networking activities … ribbon cuttings for new businesses and relocation packets and maps.” Like one-stop shopping for everything you need to know about Falcon.A chamber is a “primary way to make a difference” in a community, Carmack said – “a single point of contact for new business owners.” A chamber can be a valuable asset for those who want to start a business, and a chamber often provides ongoing educational seminars for current business owners.A chamber also exposes residents of the community to the services that businesses provide. Carmack cited the individual health and business expositions in Monument, sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, as an example.A lightning rod for discussion and common ground?A chamber could be a foundation for open forums, Carmack said. When Falcon residents went to the polls to decide on incorporating Falcon into a city, he said a chamber could have been a conduit for dialogue on the pros and cons.Kim Carson, co-owner, along with her husband, Richard, of Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings in Monument and Colorado Springs and past president of the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, said the Tri-Lakes chamber, which is just shy of 300 members, is an “avenue for communication.””In a small area like the Tri-Lakes, we try to stay away from driving opinion … from taking a stand,” she said. “However, hosting meetings and candidate forums is a great way for the chamber to educate the public. We want to be the leaders in giving people a place to go to.”Carson said the chamber is an advocate for the community – not a decision maker. “A sense of identity is established in an area from the business community and the type of businesses operating in an area,” she said. “What the chamber does is bring those businesses together along with a focus, so everyone is marching in the same direction.”To some, Falcon’s identity is yet to be determined; in part, because of its diverse composition.”Falcon is a growing community in search of an identity,” said Jeff Harrell, co-founder and leader of FAIR, Falcon Area Issues Roundtable. “We are comprised of rural and suburban areas with varying lifestyles, densities and expectations.”But, Harrell said, despite the differences, he believes the people of Falcon have a strong desire to come together for community.It was evidenced, he said, through the numerous political meetings and discussions that preceded the incorporation vote, which was held last year. Although Falcon voters soundly rejected the proposed incorporation, Harrell said the pre-vote meetings “uncovered a sense of community.””The voters may have rejected the proposed governmental structure (Harrell said there were multiple factors that contributed to the no vote), but certainly not the concept of coming together as a community,” he said. “Falcon residents were crossing cultural and neighborhood lines and sharing ideas about common issues.”To keep the momentum going, Harrell and others created FAIR as a platform for continued discussions on issues related to Falcon. He said he also believes that each group within Falcon aptly represents all interests. “We believe a community is defined by the people that live and work in a designated area. Some areas are highly commercial, while others are mostly rural,” Harrell said. “Falcon is a rapidly changing mixture, and it makes perfect sense to have multiple groups representing different discussions.”Adding a chamber to the mix could be a positive move, he said. “There are many shared issues between Falcon area businesses and residents,” Harrell said. “A joint approach to these issues can only help to create solid solutions.”Extending the lightning rod to other chambersAt the Nov. 7 meeting of the Falcon Business League, a representative from the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce will discuss chamber partnerships, a concept that has worked in some communities across the country. Leaders of the Springs chamber have been researching the idea for a few years, and they’ve recently established a coalition of chambers to identify the structure, purpose and goals of their partnershipThe coalition currently consists of the Colorado Springs chamber, Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Black Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Dave Csintyan, interim chief executive officer of the Springs chamber, said the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, the Fountain Valley chamber and the Falcon Business League have shown interest in joining the coalition as well.”The value proposition for this is regional support,” Csintyan said. The coalition is a first step in looking at the potential that a chamber partnership could create for a shared voice in commerce, he said, adding that the coalition will set the tone for “desired outcomes.”Carson said the Colorado Springs chamber has presented the partnership idea to the Tri-Lakes chamber, and the board is considering joining the coalition. “I think there can be benefits to this,” Carson said. “But would we lose our identity as a smaller chamber?”Carmack expressed the same concerns. “There are positives to a parent chamber; the support is good,” he said. “But there is a concern in losing the identity of this business area.””This is scalable in terms of regional issues,” Csyntan said. “We don’t want to dilute the personality structures of each chamber or organization.” What is unique to each organization is part of its identity, which has to remain intact, he said.Carson said joining the initial coalition may help to preserve those identities. “Part of the coalition’s job will be determining a direction for the partnership,” she said. “Does it make more sense to get involved initially and help drive the direction?”One thing is certain: The purpose of every chamber is to support commerce.After Carson purchased the Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings franchise, she and her husband immediately joined the chamber of commerce. She said chambers help business owners establish credibility as well. Carson said she can attribute a good portion of her company’s growth and success to her participation with the chamber. In the beginning, they were a mobile service only; today, they have two design sites – one in Monument and one in Colorado Springs.Business owners in Falcon are betting on growth, too – smart growth. “My business relies on growth,” Carmack said. “I want to embrace it and make sure the growth is positive.””Hopefully, we’ll bring together a consensus concerning the progression of a chamber. Maybe it will be a virtual chamber first and then move to a full-blown brick and mortar, but for sure it will be about promoting Falcon and working to support the businesses.”
