Hundreds of new jobs added to Oshkosh manufacturing base in '06
This morning’s Oshkosh Northwestern has encouraging news about our local manufacturing economy. An article says Chamco – the city’s industrial development arm – not only helped to retain 312 manufacturing and industrial-related jobs in 2006, but also added 350 more. That is wonderful news for our community and its tax base – and hats off to Doug Pearson and the rest of the Chamco staff for their accomplishments. But what about downtown?
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce has a division charged with helping develop the downtown. We rarely hear about their efforts. More importantly and more frustrating is trying to figure out what the Chamber does to promote the downtown, especially those businesses from whom they are collecting annual dues Sure, they put out a magazine, but that magazine only goes to Chamber members, I believe. The general public rarely, if ever, sees it.
I have recently seen a number of what seems like newer stores downtown, and others – like The Roxy Supper Club – have recently expanded and/or remodeled (in the case of The Roxy, it was to accommodate smokers). Why do we not hear about so many of the things going on downtown? Is this entirely the fault of the Chamber? Or does the Business Improvement District have to shoulder some of the responsibility? And if these groups are spreading the word and promoting downtown businesses, they apparently need to do a better job of it because I’ll bet if you surveyed people in Oshkosh, most would have no clue what’s going on downtown or what businesses are there.
While we’re on the subject of downtown, since many activities down there take place on weekends and at night, why aren’t a lot of the downtown businesses restructuring their hours to accommodate the hours of those events? It might draw more people into their stores. Other communities have a thriving downtown in the evening hours, but if you drive or walk downtown Oshkosh, you’ll find most businesses closed. They’re just thoughts.
Congratulations again, Chamco! Other organizations could learn vital economic development lessons from you, I think.
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce has a division charged with helping develop the downtown. We rarely hear about their efforts. More importantly and more frustrating is trying to figure out what the Chamber does to promote the downtown, especially those businesses from whom they are collecting annual dues Sure, they put out a magazine, but that magazine only goes to Chamber members, I believe. The general public rarely, if ever, sees it.
I have recently seen a number of what seems like newer stores downtown, and others – like The Roxy Supper Club – have recently expanded and/or remodeled (in the case of The Roxy, it was to accommodate smokers). Why do we not hear about so many of the things going on downtown? Is this entirely the fault of the Chamber? Or does the Business Improvement District have to shoulder some of the responsibility? And if these groups are spreading the word and promoting downtown businesses, they apparently need to do a better job of it because I’ll bet if you surveyed people in Oshkosh, most would have no clue what’s going on downtown or what businesses are there.
While we’re on the subject of downtown, since many activities down there take place on weekends and at night, why aren’t a lot of the downtown businesses restructuring their hours to accommodate the hours of those events? It might draw more people into their stores. Other communities have a thriving downtown in the evening hours, but if you drive or walk downtown Oshkosh, you’ll find most businesses closed. They’re just thoughts.
Congratulations again, Chamco! Other organizations could learn vital economic development lessons from you, I think.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 7:16 AM
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