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When the Broken Arrow Area Chamber of Commerce moves to the refurbished historic Central Middle School located at 210 North Main (Main and College from the Chamber's current offices) not only will Central be home to the school district's professional development programs; but, it will also become BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTRAL.
A community's education system plays an important role in the economic development opportunities for a community as a vital quality of life issue," Dr. Sisney said. "Our community has always supported the needs of the school district, and it is important that our school district support our community's efforts to improve economic development which includes workforce enhancement."
Greatly expanded Chamber offices will house the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation (a partnership between business, city government and the public schools) and the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority.
During planning and remodeling, the Chamber hopes to formalize strategic partnerships with several businesses, agencies, institutions and organizations that will make many business services more available and convenient to Broken Arrow area business concerns.
It is hoped that Workforce Oklahoma may be enticed to provide workforce services by establishing an on-site office and laboratory to offer ACT's WorkKeys program and other services for employers and employees.
It is hoped that executives involved with the Broken Arrow Business Assistance Team will agree to be frequently available at Business Resource Central to provide in house consulting services and advice to area businesses. A, yet to be formed, mentoring group of local business owners and managers will be frequently available to provide expertise and advice to new and emerging businesses as well as to assist those with struggling businesses.
A Broken Arrow Business Institute (BABI) is being contemplated that will partner with various business training entities in the state to make expertise more available and convenient to area business owners, managers and employees. Sessions are being developed to meet local needs on a broad range of subjects including: Business Taxes, Business Finance, Customer Service, Internet Marketing, Taxes and Incentives, Buying & Leasing Real Estate, How to Write a Resume, and many others.
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Left to right: Mickey Thompson (President-Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce), Dr. Jim Sisney (Superintendent of Schools), Jim Twombly (City of Broken Arrow City Manager)
"We are very grateful to have the Broken Arrow Schools as an involved and major investor in our economic and community development programs. We are very appreciative of the School Board and to Dr. Sisney for making such a terrific opportunity available to us," said Mickey Thompson, President of the Chamber and EDC, "this beautiful and historically significant building will become a very modern and electronically equipped development office and learning center. It will not only be a welcoming place for us to greet visitors; but, it will also be a wonderful place for learning . . . a great place from which to improve the quality of our economy and community. There will just be no place else in town where our heritage meets our future like it will at Central." |
