Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher
The Longview Chamber of Commerce was recently named “2019 Chamber of the Year” for their category. In this episode, I visit with Dave Jochum who serves as the Director of Business & Membership Development at the Longview Chamber to better understand the programs and initiatives that are setting Longview apart. The two programs Dave highlights in our interview are in line with the Chamber’s R.E.A.C.H. initiative which stands for Redevelopment, Education, Advocacy, Collaboration, and Health.
Dave shares the Chamber’s experience within the current redevelopment focus in Longview. There was a need for about $104 million in improvements throughout the city, including improvements Downtown, relocating a fire department, trails, and some street adjustments. In order to finance these projects a bond needed to be passed . The Chamber rallied behind the bond initiative and saw their efforts pay off with a much larger than normal voter turn out, and it resulted in a 2-1 passage of the bond.
Dave also shares with us the Chamber’s role in the East Texas Advanced Manufacturing Academy. There was as in many communities a workforce need and the local manufacturing companies wanted to connect with the high school students to fill this void. The funding to create the East Texas Advanced Manufacturing Academy came primarily from the Chamber Foundation and from the Longview Economic Development Corporation.
If you would like to connect with Dave Jochum, he can be reached at longviewchamber.com or on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
In your mission to be a great Chamber, consider delegating to an award-winning publisher and Chamber partner like Community Matters, Inc. for your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters can handle all of the ad sales, design work, collection, and distribution. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking print & digital publication and a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to receive a bid for your next publication.
