Businesses in the City are encouraged to attend the next Lake Worth Business Alliance meeting at Toojay’s next week.

The next meeting is at Toojay’s in Downtown Lake Worth (419 Lake Ave.) on December 14th beginning at 8:00 a.m. Anyone considering opening a new business here in this City is also encouraged to attend.

Below are notes and information about what happened at the Lake Worth Business Alliance (LWBA) meeting held on November 28th.

First and foremost, these meeting of the LWBA are not about “the airing of grievances”, it’s about the big picture, the entire business community and the City working together. Those having an issue with the City on a matter such as getting approvals or long delays are encouraged to work with LWBA members following the meeting; there will certainly be people there with good ideas and ways to help solve your problem.

The LWBA is focused on moving forward to create cooperation in the Lake Worth business community and forming a consistent and reliable way to communicate its message with the City of Lake Worth. This effort is one supported by Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein responding to what he sees is a vital need: getting the City and business community more involved in finding solutions to problems for everyone’s benefit and future success.

From the City’s point of view, commercial and business interests need to be much more engaged in what is happening, e.g., regulatory changes and attempts to reduce or eliminate those that are detrimental to conducting business and attracting more businesses.

To become a part of the LWBA there is one major rule: Your business must be located within the City of Lake Worth’s 6-square-mile municipal borders.

The inaugural meeting of the LWBA was on October 18th and really set the focus moving forward. The ‘tipping point’ prior to the first meeting was when so many business owners and concerned citizens began complaining out loud about all the burdensome and time-consuming regulations. This organization will be one way to effectively address these issues.

That’s how the idea of a “Lake Worth Business Alliance” came to be.

In bullet list format, notes taken at the LWBA meeting on Nov. 28th, in no particular order:

• The LWBA reaffirmed its focus on businesses within the City limits of Lake Worth and not on those outside the City in unincorporated areas (also referred to as “suburban Lake Worth”).
• Having sign-in sheets is very important along with invitations to the next scheduled meeting.
• The mission statement needs to be decided upon. The ideas discussed: Focus on educating businesses and the public on the municipal City limits and its unique qualities and issues as well. Build a brand of what it means to be here: Beach, historic cottages, neighborhoods, the Downtown, and ideal location in Central Palm Beach County. Possibly a slogan such as, “Working Together for City of Lake Worth”, an alliance of businesses supporting businesses.
• Promote the LWBA via the newsletter delivered with the City utility bill. The city manager also suggested this could be done on the City’s website.
• The Alliance needs to become a formal organization. Build a website for the LWBA to get the word out. A $75/year membership was suggested to have funds to pay for advertising.
• An important discussion and decision: profit vs. non-profit. For-profit is easier to create but non-profit will give access to grants. Possibly the LWBA could model itself like the Neighborhood Association Presidents’ Council? There were no attorneys at the Nov. 28th meeting and everyone in attendance was asked to invite local attorneys to the next meeting.
• An official calendar for time, date and place for future meetings needs to be created. Many venues and times were discussed and it was suggested that various local business venues be used to promote local businesses. Another suggestion was the LWBA should promote FREE public parking and create temporary signage directing attendees to meetings.
• The LWBA needs to become an initial contact for new businesses moving into the City. Create a “Welcome Wagon” of some sort, with the message that alliance members actively support each other’s businesses and support local business whenever possible.
• Creating an easy-to-use map was a topic brought up promoting the LWBA and whether it should be a traditional folding paper map or one created for social media.
• Find a way to work closely with the City of Lake Worth and the business community to collect information regarding individual business events, services, history, and unique qualities.
• There is a need for an organization that offers the opportunity for a business-to-business exchange of ideas and promotion. It is also important to create business-to-consumer promotional opportunities.

You’re encouraged to bring a colleague, employee, or anyone you think will be interested in learning more about the LWBA and bring your ideas. Plenty of time will be available for comment and exchanging of ideas.

Am looking forward to the next LWBA meeting at Toojay’s on December 14th at 8:00 a.m.