The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce released its “Path to Progress” plan Monday, which outlines the chamber’s “advocacy agenda” for business development throughout the
city in 2013 through 2014.

Jo-ell Carson, director of communications at the chamber, said the chamber modeled the agenda
on a vision set by its new president, Zach Brandon.

“The main message is, ‘We must build a greater Madison. Period,'” she said. “Looking at the Greater Madison community, … we are a great region, a great community, but we can be better.”

Carson said businesses, local government and educational institutions all affect commerce in
Madison. The chamber’s agenda promotes programs and pieces of legislation that it will foster
entrepreneurship and innovation. The agenda identified four areas – government policy, public
infrastructure, natural resources and education – that could be harnessed to promote economic
growth in the region.

One of the key resources the city has, said Carson, is its students.

“[Madison has] 40,000 students filled with unbelievably wonderful, great ideas – entrepreneurial ideas
that sometimes leave our city,” she said. “We have this
talent pool at the university, and we want to convince those students that this is a great place for
them to … grow their ideas.”

According to Carson, the Chamber of Commerce hopes to utilize and encourage student entrepreneurship by supporting co-working spaces. These spaces are often a standard office, but students can share the
costs, Carson said.

In addition to providing people with possible computer, phone and printer access and
other basic needs, Carson said co-working spaces also give students the opportunity to interact with businesspeople who have been around for a while and can serve as resources and connections.

Carson added the chamber “connects business to business, student to business and business to government” in an effort to answer any questions people may have. 

Mary Carbine, executive director of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District, said BID’s work to develop retail, entertainment and restaurant establishments
downtown overlaps with many of the goals listed in the chamber’s advocacy agenda. For
example, Carbine said both the chamber and BID support reforming the city’s permitting
process.

“A lot of small businesses and independent businesses interact with the city for various kinds
of permits, whether it’s building permits or sign permits or awnings … or outdoor vending and
caf?s,” she said. “We do believe that there are opportunities to streamline and make the process
more efficient – not getting rid of important checks, but simply making the process easier and a Chamber of Commerce agenda looks to student entrepreneurs for economic development more positive customer-friendly experience for small businesses.”

Another objective in the chamber’s agenda is preserving Madison’s natural resources – for
instance, improving the water quality in the Yahara watershed, Carson said, adding such an initiative will attract visitors to the region.

Carbine said students may see the impact of the chamber’s recommendations on the businesses
where they shop in the future, as well as the places where they take families who visit from out of town.