Chamber using GIS for marketing

Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce President Marsha Trautman presents 12-year board member and past president Ann Tieman with a certificate of service.

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At the annual Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce meeting last Tuesday at the Concordia Community Center, board president Marsha Trautman announced local business owners can have their business marked on a GIS map.

The Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission (PTRPC) to have the entire city mapped on GIS.

Trautman said all chamber members will be marked with a small dot on the map. In addition, two upper levels will be available for a fee. Businesses who pay for the artisan level may also have their company logo, name, information and link to their website included in the listing. At the next tier -- the signature level -- businesses will have their business marked on a paper map that will be developed in the upcoming months.

Trautman said the GIS will be available through a new website developed by the chamber and the city of Concordia.

"This will be a great marketing tool to attract people traveling through Concordia and those coming to town," Trautman said. "We are trying to sell the city as a whole."

The widespread use of tablets and smartphones is changing the way people find information while traveling. The main idea for the GIS, Trautman said, is to allow someone traveling in the area to view a map of Concordia businesses and attractions on their electronic devices.

Also, people not familiar with the town, who are here for a sporting event or other activity such as the Concordia Fall Festival, will be able to find their way around town and local businesses.

In other business, Darren Wodrich reported the annual golf tournament was a success this year. This year's tournament was the tenth year for the annual event.

"It's still going strong," Wodrich said.

The tournament raises money to be given to two graduating seniors from Concordia High School. Jamie Tieman and Miranda Schloman were the recipients of this year's scholarships.

Board member Patty Schnakenburg reported a chili-soup supper held by the chamber earlier in the year drew a large crowd. Schnakenberg said the event raised approximately $690, but the intent was not to raise money.

"This is an event for the community," Schnakenberg said. "It was good to see the support and give people a chance to see the businesses that are in town."

Trautman received the Steve Burrow Chamber Service Award, which is given to a member of the chamber each year. This is the third year it has been awarded. The award is named after the late Steve Burrow, a local businessman who died in December 2009.

Ann Tieman was presented with a certificate of appreciation for serving on the board for 12 years, five of which she was president.

Christina Mackesty, a pharmacist at Britt's Central Drug Store, and Beth Treat, an employee at The Simple Life, were elected to the board of directors. They will replace outgoing directors Tieman and Kathy Cooper.

Contact Nathan St. Clair at

concordianreporter@centurytel.net