Become Part of the Economic Development Committee!

This group of members works with governmental entities and economic development organizations to enhance the business environment within Lake County in order to promote the development of quality employment opportunities. Committee members can also join any of the following subcommittees:

• Economic Vision, Local Government Interaction and Economic Development Resources- Will recommend how the Chamber can help build the local economy; work with city and county government and team up with other area groups to help our local economy grow.
• Economic Development Disaster Plan- Will suggest ways for our members to plan for emergency events and how to maintain and recover your business in times of disaster.
• Hometown Democracy- Will lead the effort to educate voters on this amendment.

Committee Chairperson: Larry Dunn

Think you’re prepared for a disaster? Take the Business Ready Quiz and find out!

1. Have you identified the impact an outage will have on employees, customers and business relationships?
2. Have you determined how long your company can afford to be closed before the business is critically affected?
3. Have you developed, documented and tested a comprehensive business continuity plan for facilities, employees, systems, data and networks that addresses recovery and restoration, and internet communications?
4. Have you determined how your business will operate should key business partners and vendors be effected by a disruption or disaster?
5. Have you negotiated vendor contracts or lease agreements necessary to acquire equipment and services in the event of a significant disruption or disaster?

For information, statistics and ideas please check out the following emergency management for small and home-based business websites:
Department of Homeland Security: Ready Business:
http://www.ready.gov/business/index.html
Small Business Administration:
http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/disasterpreparedness/index.html
Florida Division of Emergency Management:
http://www.floridadisaster.org/business/
Lake County Florida Emergency Management Division:
http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/
Insurance Information Institute:
 http://www.iii.org/individuals/business/
Institute for Business & Home Safety: 
http://www.ibhs.org/business_protection/
Public Entity Risk Institute - National Emergency Management Network:
http://www.riskinstitute.org/PERI/PTR/National+Emergency+Management+Network
About.com: Business Information:
http://sbinformation.about.com/od/disastermanagement/a/disasterrecover_2.htm
Florida Small Business Development Center – Business Continuity and Risk Management Program: http://www.floridasbdc.com/Home/Hurricane-Disaster-Information.asp