A shot in the arm for Bay business

The call to grow Bay business has been answered by Bay businesses.
Business Hawke's Bay - a joint venture between the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce, private businesses and councils - took its first public step last night with an informal launch and the unveiling of new premises in Hastings.
BHB's new board (see page A11) was announced at its Hastings St quarters, shared with the chamber.
BHB is a response to ongoing calls to grow the Hawke's Bay's economy and fill the gap left by the demise of Venture Hawke's Bay last year. The official launch will occur early next year, but facilities are available to members now.
Tukituki MP and Associate Minister of Commerce, Craig Foss, opened the new offices.
Chamber president Stuart McLauchlan said he was looking forward to BHB's influence on Bay business.
"The Chamber is only moving about 30m but into a premises over twice the size, providing room to include hot desks for staff and contractors of the arms-length Chamber entity BHB."
An e-commerce centre would help members learn new technologies.
Chamber CEO Murray Douglas said BHB was a very different way of understanding economic development in Hawke's Bay.
"We have set up a very transparent partnership model based solidly in the private sector but fully collaborating with councils, businesses and business bodies," he said.
"There is an enduring case for a peak business-promotion and economic-growth-focused body for the whole of Hawke's Bay that sets out to consistently provide integrated support for local growth, and acting as an informed and capable conduit for business relocations to the Bay."
BHB will be governed by the 11-member board of business leaders and an advisory group consisting of the economic development unit managers of the councils, the chamber and Hawke's Bay Tourism.
Funding and support was largely from the private sector with some council assistance providing a three-year, rolling commitment.
"The intention is to tap into existing complementary work of the councils in economic development, and in association with key business players to cover off the gaps and realise potential growth in existing businesses as well as market the region for new opportunities.
"To date, the support has been uniformly positive and the chamber is appreciative of this, which augurs well for the success of this approach." Mr Douglas said.