Chamber of commerce will move into Nolan Center

The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce will move into the Nolan Center, pending the expected approval by the borough assembly later this month.

Setting up shop in the Nolan Center will put the chamber in a more visible and heavily trafficked location, allowing better access for visitors. Since 2012, the chamber has been in an office in the Stikine Inn, around the corner from the front desk.

“We’re essentially becoming roommates,” said Kate Thomas, the borough’s economic development director, describing the new arrangement for sharing office space. She spoke at the April 1 meeting of the economic development board.

“You take one and one and I think we get five out of this,” Economic Development Board Chair Bob Dalrymple said after the advisory panel voted 5-0 to recommend assembly approval of an agreement for the chamber to use the borough-owned Nolan Center.

Not only does the chamber get a new location more heavily visited by tourists, but it also will get free rent and utilities, Thomas explained. She explained that’s similar to the borough’s current contribution of free utilities for KSTK radio and the Senior Center.

A three-year agreement will be negotiated between the chamber and borough officials and presented to the assembly for consideration at its April 22 meeting, Thomas said.

Assuming there are no delays, the chamber could move in the first week of May. The first cruise ship of the season is due into Wrangell on May 8.

The chamber office will share an area with borough staff, near the information counter.

“This shared-space arrangement reduces the chamber's overhead costs, reflecting the borough’s commitment to supporting the chamber’s vital role in local economic development and community enhancement,” according to the draft agreement.

In addition to helping visitors and promoting tourism, working with the Wrangell Convention and Visitor Bureau, the chamber also plans to step up its advocacy for local businesses, Ed Caum, the chamber vice president, said at the April 1 economic development board meeting.

Caum has served since last summer as tourism coordinator for the Wrangell Cooperative Association.

Thomas noted that there are 250 state business license holders in Wrangell, with the chamber reporting 110 members, suggesting there is room for the nonprofit organization to expand its membership base.