The price of membership for Powell River Chamber of Commerce would be included in licence fees for Powell River businesses if a chamber plan is adopted by City of Powell River.
But a number of outstanding questions remain, not the least of which is the $40 that would be added to every business licence in the city.
“As a result, with every business license issued, owners will become members in the chamber,” said chamber president Cory Carr.
Carr called it a partnership opportunity with the chamber getting more in the arrangement than the city.
The chamber hopes the mechanism would instantly increase its membership from 300 to 1,000, as well as revenue. Chamber membership is approximately between $175 to $850.
According to Carr, it would be the responsibility of the city to collect the $40 fee in addition to the licence and the chamber would have to prove the benefits of membership.
In terms of the city, Carr said there would be added value to a business licence. It would reduce the need for Powell River Economic Development Society, expand the city’s support for new business and there would be no loss of revenue or loss of labour that could disrupt labour relations, he added.
“The chamber probably benefits more than the city in this partnership agreement,” said Carr. “But I think we need to ask ourselves, ‘what's the value in that?’”
A $40 chamber membership added to a business licence is not so much that the chamber would be seen as gouging businesses and it could be easily validated, according to Carr.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he was struggling with ramming it down their throats, which was refuted by Carr.
“We're ramming a bunch of benefits down their throat,” said Carr. “We're ramming a bunch of good information down their throat.”
It all comes down to what’s in it for business owners, according to the chamber’s plan, including two memberships for one fee. Businesses currently holding city licences and chamber memberships will pay less overall, receive greater and more immediate access to chamber resources, and access to a network of business owners and professionals.
“We're not looking for a handout,” said Carr. “We're providing value in terms of getting something out of it.”
At City of Powell River Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, February 19, city staff was directed to bring a report back to council on the proposal.
