The Clermont Sun » Chamber moves to Union Township

Chamber moves to Union Township

June 29th, 2007 Author: Rodney Beckwith Filed Under: News

The Clermont Chamber of Commerce recently upgraded its surroundings, taking a fresh look at economic development through the relocation to a fresh new office.

Formerly located on the outskirts of Milford, the Clermont chamber recently sold its former office in favor of a newly-created office park in Union Township.

“About 12 months ago, the chamber established a facilities committee to look in on the use and occupancy of the chamber facility,” said chamber president Matt Van Sant. “After a considerable amount of study, including meeting with brokers, appraisers and developers, we determined that the facility as it is currently laid out was underutilized. Also, there was excess space.”

Now, no longer set apart in its own structure, the chamber shares a high-tech new office complex with other area businesses. Located near the new Ivy Pointe office park, the chamber is located at 4355 Ferguson Drive, Suite 150. Van Sant said that decision to move was eased by the unexpected offer to purchase its old location by Riverhills Bank.

Kelly Haustetter, Julie Graybill and Cyn Macke, of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce, pose in the new office's lobby. The new location is hoped to give the chamber a better opportunity to serve business owners in the county.

"During the process, we received a very fair offer to purchase the facility, and after consideration of that very fair offer, we decided to begin a relocation investigation, and made a decision to move into the Eastgate area earlier this year," said Van Sant.

The move should help to streamline the chamber's operation, said Van Sant, as well as create more money for expenditures. The chamber will actually be saving money by the move, and will be somewhat closer to the most explosively expanding business area of the county.

"This will allow the chamber to better allocate our resources, programs, products and services in line with our strategic priorities," said Van Sant. "This is in part because our occupancy costs in this new location area lower than in the former building. This is very convenient, accessible and very professional. We have a first floor lobby location, so when you walk in, you see us. This has worked out very well. We're just thrilled to be here."