WESTMINSTER — One of the major recommendations of a recent Oconee Economic Development Summit is being addressed by Chambers of Commerce in Seneca, Walhalla and Westminster.

Directors in all three chambers have voted to create an Oconee Chamber Alliance, to work on projects to benefit the entire county.

The Economic Development Summit held May 7 attracted more than 150 people who came up with a long list of recommendations to spur economic growth in Oconee County. One of the high level recommendations was creation of one Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, which drew broad-based support.

George Allgood, President of the Walhalla Chamber, told a preliminary meeting of the new Oconee Chamber Alliance on Monday that formation of the group would allow the chambers to pursue projects on a countywide basis while maintaining the local chambers as they currently exist.

The Chamber Alliance will meet again June 19, at 8:30 a.m., at Blue Ridge Electric Co-operative to define operating parameters.

Westminster Chamber President Bob Moir said the alliance was not established to replace the three individual chambers, but rather to collaborate on countywide projects while continuing work within each of the three areas.

“The chambers, over the course of the last several months, had come to recognize that economic development is everyone’s business,” he said.

Seneca Chamber Executive Director Patrick Lee said future collaborations through the alliance might include events like the recent summit, as well as projects like the push for the one-cent sales tax referendum last year.

“The alliance would enable the business community and members of all three chambers to speak on public policy issues as one voice,” he said.

Six breakout sessions at the economic summit also found that Oconee needs a better-qualified work force to address new technology and diversification in the future. The breakout session on Education suggested that training programs should be more convenient with satellite campuses and flexible schedules for Tri-County Technical College and Clemson University.

Five economic summit groups recommended countywide zoning. Those sessions cited protection of lifestyle, property values, enhanced recruiting of industry and increased tax revenues as reasons for land-use regulations.

Economic planners also recommended countywide broadband Internet service as an enhancement to new business and industry. High-speed Internet service has become a part of the infrastructure required for most companies to do business in today’s markets.

The summit group on tourism produced the largest number of recommendations at 25. The tourism group suggested preservation and protection of historic sites, homes and places and creation of a countywide convention and visitor’s center.

The new Oconee Chamber Alliance is making plans to present the Economic Summit recommendations to city and county government, business and education leaders soon.

Copies of the Economic Summit results will be available soon on Web sites and at Chamber offices in Seneca, Walhalla and Westminster.

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“The alliance would enable the business community and members of all three chambers to speak on public policy issues as one voice.”

— Patrick Lee, Seneca Chamber Director