Job Opening: Economic Development Officer, Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce

Reports: Directly to the Chamber President; Indirectly to the Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors
Location: Chamber of Commerce Office - Pine Mountain Village - Eureka Springs
Position: Currently budgeted for part-time position 15-20 hours per week through grants

Qualifications:
* Organized
* Self-directed
* Strategic planning skills
* Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
* Group leadership skills
* Comfortable with extensive contact in person and on the phone with business leaders, chamber membership and the public
* Microsoft Office and general computer skills
* 4 -year degree in businesses or related fields or equivalent business experience
* Knowledge of Eureka Springs area
* Previous Economic Development experience a plus
* Grant seeking and writing experience a plus

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
1) Staff and assist in the opening of an Office of Economic Development (OED) to be housed within the office of the Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce to implement the Economic Development Committees' work plan
2) Gain approvals needed and implement "business incentives" as developed by the EDC in 2005 enabling a more attractive location/relocation site for businesses and the development of new job opportunities for the area
3) Assist the EDC in developing and implementing a complete protocol to receive and follow-up on business inquiries and to track and report same
4) Further develop the tourism product of Eureka Springs:
a) Continue work on the Downtown Development initiative resulting in a federal appropriation request for capital improvements
b) Attempt to recruit a water park to the region
c) Attempt to recruit a movie theater to the community
5) Educate officials, developers and the public to the retirement relocation opportunities in the region
6) Identify and create an "Enterprise Zone Master Plan" for the area along Passion Play Road
7) Identify fifty "non-profit" organizations that might consider relocation to the county and solicit their interest in relocation through written, telephone and personal contact
8) Make the EDO self-sustaining through grants applied for and obtained through government organizations and private foundations
9) Sponsor and host the first Annual Summit on Business in Eureka Springs, focusing on eco-tourism and partnering with the Eureka Springs Parks Commission and Community Development Partnership
10) Be an active partner in the development of the "Arts, Cultural and Heritage" tourism segment:
a) Creation of a list of current local assets in this genre
b) Implement an impact study as to the economic value that such tourism has to the region
c) Assisting in a web site promotion of the regions as an "arts" destination
11) Be an active partner in the recruitment and development of "workforce development support services":
a) Recruiting a developer of attainable housing
b) Identify structures that may be converted to attainable housing
c) Assisting in services for the smooth relocation of Hispanics to the region in the areas of communication, employment and education
12) Partner with the Eureka Springs Transit Authority to further communicate the needs of our visitors regarding:
a) Identifying parking and transportation to and throughout the city
b) Creating and implementing a mutual strategy as it applies to signage, maps and intra-city travel instructions
13) Partner with the Chamber's Wedding Committee to sponsor and host the first Annual Eureka Springs Wedding Show
14) Secure funding and support from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission as the genesis for the construction of a grow-out facility (fish hatchery) to further serve as the cornerstone of the region's recreational hub surrounding Beaver Dam
15) Act as Task Force Liaison to the EDO Committee
16) Act as liaison to City and County government entities as required
Other Requirements:
1) May require flexible hours for meetings, calls, etc.
2) May require some light and possibly overnight travel, evening entertainment, tours, etc.
3) Requires general office work environment, but may require some field work (site visits, etc.)
4) Other duties as required by the position

Comments and Items of Interest:
1) The above duties and responsibilities represent the current work plan of the Economic Development Committee and the Chamber
2) Prioritization and timelines for the work plan ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifre currently being finalized with input from the Economic Development Committee, the Chamber Board and Chamber Staff
3) Not all of the goals listed in the work plan will be completed this year. All items will be worked on based on priority and timelines established. Many items will be longer-term action items
4) It is the goal of the Chamber to have the EDO position be self-sustaining with an expansion of the position as return on investment is realized and additional grants are secured

Send Resume to Jeff Feldman, President, Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of
Commerce
T: 479-253-8737 F: 479-253-5037
800-6EUREKA
jeff@eurekaspringschamber.com
P.O. Box 551- 137b West Van Buren, Eureka Springs, Arkansas 72632