Chamber Launches Inaugural Business Walk event on May 8!

A “business walk” is about making connections with businesses in our community at their place of business. This program will provide an excellent opportunity to listen to the business community and identify common themes for action while bringing together resources, (procurement, training, workforce development), city services and representatives of the business community for specific action plans that assist business growth and development.

A “Business Walk” has other purposes too.  It provides businesses an opportunity to connect with elected officials, Chamber leadership, and other business and civic leaders. It is also a way to say “thank you” to businesses, network, help retention, connect and share resources, provide learning opportunities, assess local economy, and provide strategic economic planning. 

The main tools of a “Business Walk” are volunteers and a three question survey. Volunteers will spend between 10-12 minutes at each business. The end result will report on the gathered survey findings which will be distributed to those involved as well as other identified key partners. This allows the Hillsboro Chamber and everyone involved to better understand the business community and will assist everyone be more strategic in promoting a thriving local economy.

Businesses that will be visited will all be notified in advance so they will be expecting our volunteers and have agreed to assist with our survey.

Businesses will be asked three questions:

• How is Business?

• What do you like most about doing business in the area?

• What can be done to help your business thrive?

We are currently recruiting volunteers to participate in the Business Walk scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2014.  Volunteers will meet at the Chamber at 8 a.m. for a program overview and business assignment list.  At 9 a.m. the teams will head to the streets to meet with businesses and complete the surveys.  The day will culminate at 12:30 p.m. when the teams will return to the Chamber to debrief and report their results over lunch.  We hope to visit as many as 200 businesses throughout the morning event.  If you would be interested in joining more than 60 other local business and elected leaders, please let me at 503/726-2146 or deannap@hillchamber.org.  Help us launch this event in true Hillsboro style!