This document includes information on mission, committee makeup, timeline, and other considerations.

Click here to view the meeting minutes.

Topics covered in this document include the "why," meeting schedule, meeting topics, requested documents from agencies, agency interaction, committee expectations, and peer community analysis.

This letter was written by the Chamber Board and shared with the merger committees. The letter addresses eight areas of concern, including transparent communication, peer community input, independent governance, preservation of mission, financial impact considerations, future partnership commitment, regional representation, and evaluation of outcomes.

Notes from the second merger committee meeting include importance of regional representation, establishing subcommittees, discussion of the Chamber's letter, documents received from agencies, budget highlights explored, and staff engagement considerations.

This letter was written by Kirsten Gjesdal on behalf of the Downtown Brookings Board of Directors. The letter addresses opportunities such as improved services, operational improvements, stronger collaboration, enhanced funding.  Concerns expressed include identity preservation, operational challenges, perception issues and autonomy risks.

This letter was written by Justin Gray on behalf of the BEDC Board of Directors. It addresses area of concern including maintaining mission and focus, conflicts of interest, feasibility, and suggests critical points for consideration, such as defining the problem, flexibility and accountability, preserving BEDC expertise, and balancing priorities.

Notes from the third merger committee meeting include updates on the three sub-committees: communication, finance/budget, and organizational/board structure. The committee also discussed refining expectations of the committee's work, as well as ways to engage the public in the future.

Notes from the fourth merger committee meeting include the plan to launch a landing page, efforts to meeting with staff and directors, development of a timeline document, and some initial notes on peer community analysis.

This document contains an updated timeline and details of what will be included on the proposed implementation plan.

This letter from the Visit Brookings Co-Chairs illustrates the organization's key achievements, including their event grant program, generating millions of dollars of tax revenue, and shaping perceptions of our community.  It also mentions concerns and offers ideas to maximize the potential of a merged organization by leveraging the work of Visit Brookings.

This letter from the Vision Brookings Foundation Board of Directors highlights their operation under a Joint Venture Agreement, collaborations with BEDC and the Chamber, and pushing economic development forward. It also mentions their future plans to establish greater organizational independence, while still utilizing administrative and management support from BEDC.

Notes from the fifth and sixth merger committee meetings includes subcommittee updates, information on two upcoming forums, the Vision Brookings Board letter, and consideration of draft organizational structures.

The Merger Committee hosted a staff forum for current employees of the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Brookings Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Brookings, and Visit Brookings.  There are no public documents to share from this meeting.

Notes from the seventh merger committee meeting mention a staff forum which was held on 3/20, an upcoming board member forum, and identifying three additional work groups.

The Merger Committee hosted a forum for board members and key stakeholders from the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Brookings Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Brookings, and Visit Brookings.  There are no public documents to share from this meeting.

Notes from the eighth merger committee meeting mention a board member and key stakeholder forum which was held on 3/27, identifying four additional work groups, and two more opportunities for information sharing.  One will be an open house style event in April, the other will be a video.

Notes from the ninth merger committee meeting include a general outline of the suggested structure having three pillars (Business Development, Community Development, and Destination Development), the need to define staffing, selection of the new Board of Directors, and meeting details for two public engagement events.

Committee Co-Chairs presented to City Council on the draft recommended organizational structure, and the implementation plan to get there.  Watch a recording here, starting at 9:30 minutes into the video.

The Merger Committee hosted an open house.  There was no presentation, it was a "come-and-go" style event.  Details here.

Notes from the tenth merger committee meeting include a list of the Board of Directors Selection Committee, updates to the timeline such as anticipated approval by City Council, and a list of members in the working group for job responsibilities and staffing.

At this City Council meeting, they approved the implementation plan and up to $250,000 in funding for 2025.  View a recording of the presentation here, starting around 64 minutes into the video.

The Board Selection Committee made the Board of Directors application available. This application is due May 30, 2025, with interviews to follow. The application can be found here.

The Brookings Chamber Board of Directors voted to sign the Letter of Intent to dissolve at year-end and merge with the new entity.

The new entity's Board of Directors was chosen by a selection committee. See below for details.

Board of Directors:

• Michaela Willis
• Nick Wendell
• Shawn Hostler
• Angela Boersma
• Elena McKeown
• Jamison Lamp
• Jeremy Johnson
• Kyle Minett
• Laci Thompson
• Mike Turnwall
• Nate Schaefer

Board of Directors Selection Committee:

• Nathan Condelli
• Tom Fishback
• Andi Fouberg
• Marcus Heemstra
• Jared Knudson
• Kate Treiber
• Samantha Tupper

The new Board of Directors had their first meeting on August 11 and named the following Executive Committee:

• Laci Thompson - Chair
• Jamison Lamp - Vice-Chair
• Angele Boersma - Past-Chair

Click here to view the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the naming and branding of the new merged entity.