Envision Polson meeting features plan to grow businesses
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News from Envision Polson
POLSON – The June meeting of Envision Polson will feature an update by local businessperson Heather Knutson on the Polson Business Growth Action Plan. The plan began to be formed by Knutson and Todd Erickson, a local Job Service professional and Polson City Councilman, in 2012 during Knutson’s tenure as president of the Polson Chamber of Commerce.
Now, Knutson says the group is ready to put plans into action for intentional outreach to prospective businesses and entrepreneurs who may be interested in relocating to Polson. More information about the plans will be provided at the meeting.
“The Polson Business Growth Action Plan is something that we are interested in learning more about because Envision Polson wants to support activities that work with its mission,” Liz Marchi, Envision Polson participant, said.
At the May 2013 meeting of Envision Polson, participants developed and agreed upon an updated mission statement: Envision Polson, through collaboration, builds partnerships that support economic vitality and promote the well-being of our community for its people and environment.
Envision Polson participants discussed at the May meeting how work is different now compared to 25 years ago. These days it is no longer appropriate to define economic development only in terms of jobs; it is now better defined as the capacity created in a community to identify and use resources for long-term prosperity.
“All good economic development programs are built around just a few basic objectives,” Marchi said. “It sounds like the Business Growth Action Plan we will hear about at the June meeting uses the strategy of encouraging new employers and employees to the area. Envision Polson is interested in learning about other strategies as well, such as programs to make existing employers more competitive, programs that encourage purchase of goods and services locally, and ways to increase access to outside sources of capital.”
Envision Polson believes a community’s sense of “self” and “vision” are essential resources, and that broad-based economic development programs work best when they evolve from unique values and traditions.
“Grassroots organizations and their volunteers, such as Envision Polson, are vital to economic development and building capacity in our community,” Marchi added.
Everyone is invited to attend the Envision Polson meeting on Tuesday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Polson Heart & Soul office located in the northeast corner of the Lake County Public Library.
