Osprey chamber under discussion

With the void left by the sunset of the Osprey Revitalization Committee, some residents are looking for another organization to promote Osprey.

“We had a pretty good core group,” said Rick Noyes, chairman of the former group.

Noyes and Realtor Norma Martin have begun discussing the possibility of creating an Osprey Chamber of Commerce.

The two are regulars at a monthly networking breakfast in which Osprey business owners and residents get together to promote their businesses.

“We have 35 to 40 people at the breakfasts,” said Noyes. “I think we’ve reached critical mass.”

Martin said after three years of meetings, the group has gotten large.

“If it gets too big, it’ll be hard for people to speak,” she said.

Noyes believes an Osprey chamber would do wonders for Osprey businesses.

“The goal is to create awareness of local companies and reinforce doing business with one another and to reach out to citizens to let them know that these businesses are there,” he said.

The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce already serves Osprey, and its president and CEO, John Ryan, said the desire may be there, but there may not be enough people to support it.

“Osprey is very near and dear to us,” said Ryan, who thinks a better option would be to increase Osprey business participation in his chamber.

Noyes agreed that there could be conflict there and suggested Osprey could be an affiliate of the Venice Area Chamber.

“I think it could be interesting,” said Noyes.

Martin believes Osprey may be able to support its own chamber.

“Osprey is coming into its own,” she said.