CHAMBER-LED COALITION TO SEEK LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR BEACH PRESERVATION

CHAMBER-LED COALITION TO SEEK LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR BEACH PRESERVATION

by Scott Ashton CEO, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce

The more I read about the history of Chambers of Commerce, the more I grow to appreciate the role our organizations have played in convening key stakeholders to “make things happen” for our communities. I see the Oceanside Chamber continually moving toward a commitment to take the lead on important issues facing our city. I am grateful to work for a Board of Directors that understands the role we can play as a champion for a thriving community.

The recent defeat of the Measure Y ballot initiative was a shining example of how the Oceanside Chamber took the lead on a critical issue facing our City. You can read more about this in our annual report on Page 8.

Last October, the Chamber Board and Staff came together for its annual planning session to set our priorities for the coming year. We identified key community issues that fit within our 3-Year strategic plan and began to set a course of action. Here’s a brief overview of our plans for each of these areas…

Economic Development – Beach Sand Issue For as long as most of us can remember, our city has been known for its beautiful sandy beaches. Locals and visitors alike have recognized our beaches as one of San Diego County’s best attractions. A key to having sand on our beaches has been the annual harbor dredging conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The sand removed from the harbor mouth is placed on our beaches just in time for summer. However, for 2 of the last 3 years, the USACE failed to get the job done properly and in a timely manner.

We believe it is time for the Chamber to bring community leaders together to address solutions to this issue instead of the annual “band-aid” that falls off quickly or fails to get applied at all.

The Chamber Board of Directors has authorized the creation of a Beach Sand Task Force that will bring together a wide variety of stakeholders to develop a long-term solution for beach erosion issues.

Public Policy – Helping Get Business-Friendly Candidates Elected Our quality of life is directly impacted by the quality of elected officials running our various government entities. Over 86% of Oceanside Chamber members responding to a recent survey said they felt it was important for the Chamber to be involved in helping business-friendly candidates get elected to office.

Along those lines, the Chamber Board of Directors has directed the Chamber’s Business and Community Political Action Committee to create policies and procedures for endorsing/supporting business friendly candidates. Proposed policies and procedures will be brought to the board for consideration and adoption by Summer 2019.

Workforce Development – Connecting Students With Jobs For our local economy to succeed, we will need a workforce with the technical and soft skills that match the needs of our businesses.

As a result, the Chamber Board has directed its Workforce Development Task Force to create programs that will provide local students with exposure to emerging industries and career opportunities within Oceanside.

The Task Force will also continue to support the Oceanside Promise in its Latino Young Men Success Initiative by helping secure internships and job shadowing (“experienceship”) opportunities.

We are truly excited to take on these challenges this year and in the years to come. It is a privilege to be a part of an organization that is positioned to make a positive difference in the community. With the support of our amazing business community, we are equipped to move forward in an impactful way. Here’s to a great 2019!