Launch of the St Francis Business Chamber

By Bev Mortimer 

Exciting developments are on the cards. This was evident at the launch of the St Francis Business Chamber by John Hammond last night at St Francis Links.

A most informative and interesting presentation was given by Hammond to about 90  people who attended

 A few highlights of his address are given here and the presentation is available below…

Great plans and projects have been mooted for St Francis Bay- all designed to bring more people here and to improve businesses and of course the area as a whole – making it even more appealing to visitors. “It’s the way to go!” was the overall enthusiastic response of many attendees asked for their opinion after Hammond’s presentation.

In his presentation Hammond inter alia spoke about the objectives and challenges facing the newly formed Business Chamber. which aims to effectively promote and protect the interests of business.

Starting with the latter, he said small business can hold this community together though there are challenges facing us business people. “We can face them if we pull together,” he said.

“Business must work together to develop strategies and plans that enhance our offering while opening up opportunities, attract investors and tourists to our villages.”

Hammond said the Business Chamber was formed through a number of business people who wished to play a more active role in the community.

He maintained that St Francis Bay has to up its game owing to competition from the major South African holiday resorts, including the likes of Knynsa and Plettenberg Bay. “We have to be better and smarter. We have to get the message out there that St Francis is good for business and Business is good for St Francis, that St Francis is a great area to come to.”

He believed that businesses should be ready for the possibility of the Thyspunt nuclear power plant. Businesses should work with government so that they can benefit from it, if it does become a reality.  “We need to embrace nuclear as have businesses in Jeffreys and Humansdorp”.

Hammond believed that money can be found and raised for projects that the Business Chamber has in mind.

In repeating the phrase ‘put your money where your mouth is’, Hammond said that within three years  R5-million was raised to build the Catholic Church in Humansdorp. This amount was raised through community projects and fundraising efforts.

He mentioned that through the efforts of the Business Chamber in dealing with the municipality the first project came to fruition last month. This was the establishment of the new St Francis Market, held on the last Saturday of the month and which had a most successful opening.

One of the next projects that has garnered huge enthusiasm from business people already is enhancing the Christmas lights during the festive season in St Francis.

“Our thanks to Pete Bridges and George Stegmann of the Business Forum for organising the event and to Jeff Clause and the Links for hosting the event,” Hammond said.

In his opening address Peter Bridges of the Business Forum said the formation of the Business Chamber was ‘fantastic’ and there were great ideas emerging from it.

He said the two entities, the Business Chamber and the Business Forum, will remain separate but support each other.

Download the full presentation here:

Business Chamber Overview Draft 0.2

 

All articles edited or written, all photos taken plus all adverts designed by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by the law of Copyright ©.  Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.

s