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Speaking to the alternate executive director of
the chamber, Paula Hazlewood, she enlightened me on a few
tips business starters ought to consider before setting up shop.
“We mainly require that you have an Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) identification certificate as well as a business license
from the city of Blair”, she said. However, we at the chamber
are only a voice of all businesses as well as an umbrella that
liaises with the city," Ms Hazlewood continued. She took time to
spell out a few benefits of membership in the Blair Area Chamber
of Commerce including: networking opportunities with other
businesses, educational opportunities for you and your
employees, and participation in the Blair Bucks program, as well
as other community service programs. You also have influence
with local, state, and federal government officials through
them. Other benefits include: getting information about current
community events, having a listing in their membership directory
and premier community resource link as well as business
referrals for members. Another perks includes; free use of
Chamber meeting room, TV, VCR, and their fax machine. “The Blair
Area Chamber of Commerce shall be a catalyst in the orderly
promotion of economic and community development of the Blair
area," she said reading from a brochure
Another key business development partner is the
Blair Gateway Development Corporation which is also ran by Paula
Hazlewood. It is a not- for-profit organization that was founded
in 1989 to meet the economic development needs of Washington
County. Since May of 2002 the organization has been housed at
the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce where they work along side
the economic development teams of the Greater Omaha Chamber and
Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. This partnership
has formed a regional economic development team that boasts over
100 years of combined experience.
Upon interviewing the Blair City Clerk, Ms.
Brenda Wheeler, I learned of the government's power on
businesses set up in Blair. “This town is set in different
zones, and there are some that require permits to set up shop
and others that do not," she stated. “Businesses in the
central business district zone- that is the downtown area; do
not need a permit while there are few exceptions like home
businesses, says, hair braiding and the like, also fall in that
category.” About the least capital requirement needed for a
business is a license, she hastily points out, “it really
doesn’t matter, so long as you fall under the right zone," Ms
Wheeler noted. “We only regulate where a business is going and
see if it is allowed by zoning; say, starting up a carwash,
there are specific areas one can be set up."
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