Bright Area Business Association
Meeting Minutes 10/09/2015
8:00 a.m. at the Bright Lions Club
Recorded by: Lori Enright (Co-Secretary)
Meeting called to order, followed by Pledge of Allegiance led by Jim Mansfield
Individual/Business introductions by members/visitors.
Leadership Reports:
Jim Mansfield (VP)- notes on Social Media sharing and its importance. The more sharing, the more people see BABA posts and more exposure = more business sales.
Note on December BABA elections- please step up in you’re interested in a Board position. In need of a new membership chair, with Diane stepping down. Please consider!
Membership:
Diane Bender. Report on new members: All About Doors, Beyond Cyber Concepts, EKP (?) Financial, Harrison VFW, Tedesco’s and Subway, Waltz Woodworking, River City Tap and Grille
Programs:
Celeste Calvitto: Kevin Lynch will be November speaker. The December meeting with be a Social (Holiday Christmas breakfast- more to come). January: Andrew Jackson; Superintendent of Sunman Dearborn Schools.
Guest Speaker for today’s meeting: Terri Randall; Dearborn County Administrator/Economic Dvpt. Officer. Terri updated members on current economic development plans and businesses coming to Dearborn County. Her focus of today’s meeting was the economic development came from the private sector. She gave a synopsis on her background. Terri touched on the Whitewater Flour Mill project as her first major accomplishment. She reiterated that the deal was about respect and relationships, not money from Lawrenceburg. She was able to get money from the city once and because she had skin in the game.
New Project: Skally’s Old World Bakery (future location next to Hirlinger Chevrolet property). The new deal just closed. Will bring well-paying jobs ($18/hr) to Dearborn County. High-tech/efficiency baking system. Up to 150 jobs over the next 5 years.
Needed improvements in Dearborn County- 275 entrance to Greendale. Needs a better welcome with more pride coming off the exit ramp for visitors coming in.
Dearborn County is working more with Cincinnati (far more) than in the past. D.C. has an identity crisis, as part of Indiana, but essentially ignored from the state level. More money, resources and opportunity come from Cincinnati. D.C. is part of the Cincinnati region. More young couples/families are moving West toward our area, especially HVL and Bright. We need to be more attractive to them and offer more for these people. Terri concluded with saying we can’t be everything, and we need to build on our known strengths. Terri did a great job and was well-received by the group.
Old Business:
- Bebe Kinnett- discussed web updates. Folks can now enter their email addresses on the website to automatically receive BABA emails.
- New Business: Time for dues collection. Discussion of moving dues payments to January, and the cycle will be 1/1-12/31 (calendar year). This was tabled to next month.
Treasurer’s report: $6,800 in account after donations and tax payouts.
Notes- December Holiday party will be a morning social meeting on 12/11/15. The D.C. Chamber has 6 tickets for BABA for Chamber Appreciation night on 10/21 at the Zoo. Let Greg know if interested.
Adjournmant.
October 9, 2015 BABA Meeting Attendees
Celeste Calvitto
Greg Gronwall
Art Little
Debby Stutz
Bebe and Jim Kinnett
Jody Blasdel
Dale Lutz
Cari Vuko
Alisha Siebert
Diane Bender
Lissa Graber
Rita Seig
Mark Lutz
Teri Waltz
AJ Waltz
Matt Davis
Sue Dawson
Lori Enright
Wayne Leslie
Jim Mansfield
Terri Randall (Speaker)