The Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has invited Key Peninsula businesses to a “neighborhood forum” in May to talk about the business climate and economic development. It’s the first such forum the chamber plans to have throughout its area as part of a strategy to address business growth and economic development as well as expand its outreach. Two business sector forums — finance and land development — were held as well, with others planned.

“We need to become the nerve endings for this community,” said Bob Draggoo, chamber vice president and chairman of the chamber’s business and economic development committee, which last fall as part of its new strategic development plan launched an effort to help retain and expand Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula businesses and recruit new ones.

In addition to neighborhood and business sector forums, the approach includes the creation of a task force to look specifically at growth issues, and so-called S.W.O.T.— a group that meets with individual businesses to talk about their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Other stakeholders such as the Tacoma/Pierce County Economic Development Board (EDB), or the city of Gig Harbor if the business is within city limits, are present at the meetings and other sessions.

“We meet with businesses in a confidential conversation to see how business is going, what are their heartburns and how we can alleviate some of it, as well as find out what’s on the horizon,” said Derek Kilmer, chamber executive committee member and a business retention manager for the EDB. “We try to be both proactive and reactive.”

The trends identified through the effort will be compiled into an economic outlook report. “We try to connect the dots: Are we hearing the same trends, are we seeing the same issues? If we see some themes, we try to address those,” Kilmer said. Part of that includes working with the city to streamline the permit process, or even addressing quality of life topics like schools, so the chamber works closely with school district.

“Growth will happen whether we plan it or not. We need to look at growth not just in a small microcosm, and we need to start working together,” Draggoo said.