The Norman Transcript
By Randall Turk

Norman Chamber of Commerce members can expect a steady hand at the tiller over the next year.

Steve Corley, the new president of the chamber’s Board of Directors, inherits the traditional mission of carefully navigating the chamber’s course. But he also wants to steer the organization through the choppy waters of controversy to reach a positive destination for Norman and the city’s many diverse business enterprises.

Corley is a partner in the Norman accounting firm of Murrell, Hall, McIntosh & Co., PLLP. If successful in his purpose, he could well break through the general public’s misconceptions of what the chamber is all about. The Norman Chamber has grown steadily over the years to reach today’s level of more than 1,300 members.

“I want to get our entire membership engaged in the business of the chamber,” Corley said Wednesday.

Shortly before he took office May 1, Corley participated in the Chamber Board’s strategic planning retreat held annually to map the organization’s policies and plans. “We’ll try to educate the community about the impact the chamber’s pro-business attitude has on Norman’s quality of life,” he said. “Everyone, including non-profit agencies, government and the schools, benefits from business.”

For over two years, the University of Oklahoma’s North Park Tax Increment Financing Plan (TIF) has been the subject of intense deliberation among city leaders and Norman residents. The recently approved TIF plan promises rapid, upscale development on a 585-acre tract of former airport land fronting two miles of I-35.

“The chamber and other pro-business people backet the TIF plan,” Corley said. “Now we’re interested in how it will be executed. We’re confident developers will hold true to the stated goal of making it spectacular.”

The Norman Economic Development Coalition, an effort of the chamber, the City of Norman and the university, is another sharply contended issue the chamber has defended.

“We’re interested in quality jobs the NEDC attracts to the city,” Corley said. The NEDC has developed the Norman Business Park east of downtown, a project almost completely occupied by commercial businesses. The park development, once hotly contested, now is completely paid off and providing revenue for more development.

“The NEDC has done a good job attracting high-tech businesses to town,” Corley said. “Companies like Riskmetrics, the new Albon engineering and manufacturing plant, weather-related enterprises and software companies are of great economic benefit.”

Another major goal of the chamber and the NEDC is to serve the needs of existing companies, many operating in Norman for many years, Corley said. That involves regular visits to determine what is required to help these companies grow and develop more jobs. Companies like Johnson Controls (formerly York International), Hitachi Computer Products and what is now Astellas Pharma Technologies are major employers that have operated in Norman for years.

Corley said he wants to interest chamber members in becoming more involved in developments that affect the Norman economy, beginning with city council issues that involve the city’s growth and development. “We want our city to grow in a positive, controlled, managed direction.”

For years, the chamber has been aware of a “no-growth” sentiment among some Norman residents concerned about preserving the city’s small town qualities.

“The chamber and those who want to limit growth may not be so far apart on what’s best for Norman,” Corley said.

The chamber board regularly approves resolutions endorsing city improvements, school bond issues and legislative matters. Such issues will grow more complex this year as the chamber examines the proposed continuation of the half-cent city sales tax, complications with a proposed north side sewage treatment plant and the taxpayer bill of rights (TABOR) petition to amend the state Constitution.

“People are all over the board on the half-cent tax,” Corley said. “We have a lot of questions about it. As it stands now, TABOR may not make it to the ballot. We haven’t taken a stand on it, but we’ll follow it closely.”

Another chamber goal is to enhance retail trade throughout Norman. The annual “Shop Norman” and “Tax-Free Weekend” events draw shoppers from throughout the state and increase city tax revenues.

On the state level, Corley said the chamber will continue to conduct a series of forums during the legislative session. At the forums, state legislators representing Norman discuss issues and measure public interest in pending state bills.

The chamber Government Affairs Committee also coordinates with the State Chamber’s lobbying efforts at the Capitol and collaborates on several State Chamber projects.

Corley said Norman chamber representatives will continue the annual trips to Washington to visit with the state’s congressional delegation, government agencies and lobbyists for OU and the City of Norman. He said the Washington visits are useful in developing support for local needs and “getting a closer ear to what is affecting Norman and the state.”

In Washington the Norman Chamber delegation also visits with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency responsible for funding much of the weather research in Norman.

“The federal government, the university and the private sector have been brought together to form the National Weather Center,” Corley said. About 700 weather agency researchers and employees soon will be consolidating in the recently completed National Weather Center building on the university’s south campus. “The weather center and private enterprises clustered around it form a weather hub that’s attracting national attention.”

While balancing all the challenges in the year ahead, Corley said the chamber itself must retain members and continue to grow. Opportunities for members include participating in chamber committees, special programs and events and monthly networking opportunities like Business After Hours, Business Before Hours and (new this year) Thursday After Hours.

“Sometimes it’s a challenge to find ways to serve members who are not as dominant as other companies so they see value in their investment,” Corley said. “We want to let our members know the chamber is doing something.

“We’re fortunate to have such diversity in our membership and our community. I think we’re all pulling on the same rope.”