Join us on Friday, January 26, at Karma Coffee Co to celebrate one year of the Be Here initiative (details at the bottom of this blog post)
It’s hard to believe it has already been almost one year since we introduced the Be Here initiative at our Launch Party. The past twelve months have been a whirlwind full of projects, presentations, conversations, and most importantly, the incredible support of our community.
With the Be Here initiative, our goal is to show that you CAN thrive in the Venango Area. We often hear comments such as: “there are no jobs here” and “you have to leave to be successful,” and we are here to spread the work that opportunities do exist here.
While we know our area has its challenges, we also know that it’s a great place to live, work, and play, and together as a community we can help our area thrive.
At the beginning, we were not entirely sure of what the Be Here project would look like, but as we look back on the past year, we think we’re off to a great start and we’re excited to continue to make progress. Here’s what has happened so far with Be Here:
Information Gathering
The first step was to gather information and perspectives to find out what really makes this a great place to be. We conducted a survey of over 200 community members asking questions about what they like and dislike about the area, why they chose to be here, what they’d like to see improve, and more. We also held focus groups with human resource representatives from local businesses to gather information specifically about employment opportunities and hiring/retaining employees in our area.
Besides surveys and focus groups, we did research to collect statistics about Venango County and met one-on-one with local experts to gather as much information as we could. We still continue to learn and hear different perspectives all the time, and are constantly updating our website and other promotional pieces.
Awareness & Attitudes
A lot of our efforts were put towards spreading the word about Be Here and the opportunities in the Venango Area. We did this through our website, social media, contests, marketing pieces, presentations, decals, word-of-mouth, and more, and we know we still have yet to reach as many people as we’d like. Starting this month, we will also be sending out a monthly email with updates about Be Here. You can join the email list here.
We not only want to make sure people are aware of Be Here, but we hope to help shift attitudes and get people to be more positive about the area and recognize what we have here. We’re always willing to speak to groups, students, organizations, or individuals, and invite you to contact us if you are interested.
Community Building
We’re not just spreading the word of Be Here—we are also seeing how we can play a part in tackling the challenges that exist. As program manager, I sit on various committees created to help strengthen different areas in the County, including:
- Venango Chamber’s Advocacy Committee
- Township of Cranberry’s Economic Development Committee
- Oil City Main Street Program’s Steering and Economic Vitality Committees
- Venango Area Community Gardens Committee
I’ve also played a huge role in helping out with Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the Chamber’s young professionals organization.
We want to be out in the community as much as possible, having conversations and assisting where we can. Our goal is to also bring community members together as much as possible, like when we gathered about 15 community leaders in November at the Barnard House with Pete Eshelman (learn more about that meeting here).
The first step was to gather information, then get people to recognize the opportunities in the area and hopefully shift their perspectives. We knew we had to do more than just talk, though, by playing a part in helping the area thrive.
County Map
While Be Here is about attracting and retaining people who call Venango County home, we also play a role in assisting visitors who are in the area for a shorter period of time. The Venango Chamber publishes a Venango County map every few years and this year it was under Be Here’s wing. With support from local businesses through advertising, the map will also be used to help sustain the program, since Be Here is grant funded. The map has been sent to the printer and will be available soon!
Home Project
We have talked to people and heard many stories of those who have left the area but want to return home. We decided to conduct another survey, with more of a focus on what would bring these people back and what their obstacles are. The survey asks questions such as:
- Why did you leave?
- Do you want to return?
- What job and salary would you prefer if you return?
- What do you like and dislike about the area?
Although we specifically wanted responses from people who have left, we also appreciate feedback from those who have stayed here. We are working on this project with the County of Venango and the data will be used when making decisions related to economic development, employment, and similar areas.
We are still collecting responses. If you’d like to take the survey, please click here.
Like most organizations and people, we have some goals for the new year. Some of these plans include:
Continued Efforts
We’re excited to see the progress of our website and other promotional materials, but know we still have some work to do. We plan to continue to improve our efforts spreading the word about Be Here, through online and print materials, word-of-mouth, meetings with community members, and more.
Programming
While we’re not sure what it will look like yet, we plan to create some community programming around topics such as workforce development, community pride, education, and community development.
Attract and Retain
We know our message has reached people who have considered leaving or have already left our area, and in 2018 we hope to be able to share many stories of people who chose to be here because of the positive messages they’ve heard through this program.
Sustainability
While Be Here has been generously funded through a grant from PNC Charitable Trusts, we know grant money does not last forever and we plan to sustain this program for future years. To do this, we will raise funds through community initiatives, Chamber support, and fundraisers.
We appreciate the support we’ve received over the past year and look forward to another year of Be Here! We invite you to celebrate one year with us on Friday, January 26, from 8 to 10 a.m. where it all began at Karma Coffee Co in Oil City. We’re providing coffee and pastries, and sharing more information about accomplishments from this past year and plans for the future. An RSVP is appreciated—please email acowles@venangochamber.org or call (814) 676-8521.
If you are unable to attend the event, we invite you to contact us to share what you think about Be Here and ideas you have for the future. You can reach out to me (Ashley) or comment below.
We’re ready for another year to help the Venango Area thrive!
Photo credits: Bright Ideas Photography and Oakwood Photo + Video
