Aiken Chamber launches its own stimulus plan for area

AIKEN --- The Aiken Chamber of Commerce wants to ensure that the community doesn't become collateral damage in the shelling of the global economy.

Last week, the chamber rolled out a seven-step economic stimulus plan to help its more than 1,050 members.

"We've got an unusual economy right now," said David Jameson, the chamber's president. "We're hunkering down to provide education and information that can help businesses improve their business."

Mr. Jameson said the stimulus plan is based on the idea that "some of our businesses are seeing the markets change with all that's going on around them in the world." He said, "I think every owner and manager is thinking, 'How can I be smarter; how can I be sharper?' "

The chamber launched the plan's first step Oct. 27: a radio advertising campaign that will run until Christmas Eve.

The ads -- 4,000 30-second spots -- will run in area markets and are designed to encourage people to shop with chamber members.

"I think it will drive business into this market," Mr. Jameson said. "People are already reporting that customers they've never seen before" are telling them they heard the ads.

The second step employed the use of the chamber's newsletter, the Commerce Report, which came out during the last week of October.

"It was a simple tactic where we use the front cover to list the names of all of our members, making it easier for people to see who our members are, all combined on one big piece of newspaper," Mr. Jameson said.

The third step takes place today at the chamber's First Friday Means Business breakfast. Dr. Michael Ritchie, a professor at University of South Carolina Aiken, will talk about what the election means for businesses.

Aiken has fared better than other communities, Mr. Jameson said, but there are "pockets of pain."

"Employment is still strong -- that's a good indicator -- real estate is not as strong as it was a year ago, obviously, and that has some ripple effects through the community," he said. "But with our companies staying strong and employment staying strong, we're coming along pretty good, compared to how lots of areas of the country are suffering right now."

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.