Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Bonduel business leaders will move forward with plans to create a chamber of commerce.
About 25 area residents and business owners attended a meeting Thursday at Village Hall to discuss whether to create the organization. It was the third meeting on the topic this year.
A core group of organizers was formed Thursday to work on launching the new endeavor.
Shawn Thorne, a Village Board and plan commission member, has been one of the key proponents of considering forming a chamber or similar organization to help area businesses.
“We are going to put together a mission statement,” Thorne said.
Other members of the group are plan commission member Troy Westcott, Red Rooster owner Bill Kolaske, Amy Thusius of Meadow View Estates, Bonduel police officer Nicole Blaskowski and Village Board member Sharon Wussow.
Nancy Smith, executive director of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, supports the Bonduel efforts.
“I think it’s a great idea,” she said, “and I am working closely with Shawn Thorne on guidance.”
Seventeen Bonduel-based businesses belong to the Shawano Country chamber. They can be members of both organizations, Smith said.
Any Bonduel-based business that is a member of Shawano Country can have membership dues for the new Bonduel association paid for by the Shawano Country organization, she said.
“We never want to compete with smaller chambers because they have their own mission and it benefits everyone if we work together,” said Smith, who indicated her organization has a similar agreement with the Wittenberg Area Chamber of Commerce.