PABA Unites Area Businesses
By Jacob Mathias
The Plover Area Business Association, a business community for the greater Plover area is seeking to help network local businesses and help them develop prospective clients within and for each other.
Originally founded in 1979 to give the Plover area a stronger voice in the overall Stevens Point business community, PABA now works with all local business, gaining nearly 160 business in its network of members.
“What we like to do is help our businesses promote…utilize one another,” said DeeAnn Donahue, PABA executive director.
PABA doesn’t actively recruit new business to the area. They do work with the Village of Plover Community Development Committee to recommend business they would like to see come to the area.
PABA does, however, have members called PABA Backers that visit new, relocated or recently expanded businesses and then feature these businesses in their monthly newsletter “Member-FYI” and “The Plover Advantage.”
Every year, PABA gives out a business of the year award. In 2013, the award was given to Wal-Mart, a successful, if not locally owned business. Those businesses nominated for the award have to meet a number of criteria including which according to PABA are:
“Any business in the Greater Plover Area, large or small, who has been in business a minimum of three years. The business must be a PABA member who has exhibited continued financial stability and development, maintains a responsible and rewarding workplace environment, established a plan for future growth, added to the economic base of the Greater Plover Area, and is dedicated to community and customer service. The business should also show efforts to adapt to changes in the marketplace and excel in its field of business.”
“The committee had chosen [Walmart] because they give back a lot to the community. The give to the schools, they give to the different municipalities like the fire department, the police department. The have given donations to Celebrate Plover…and PABA as well,” said Donahue.
“I know Walmart is bashed a lot in the news and everything but if you do look at some of the employees out there, there’s some that have been there a very long time…They definitely are part of the economic base in Plover. They are definitely part of our community.”
Past winners include Del Monte, Oakview Veterinary Medical Center, Klismith Accounting, Mark Automotive, and Spiedini’s.
PABA offers monthly membership functions such as dinners, golfing, bowling and other networking opportunities for local business owners to make business contacts.
PABA gives a $500 scholarship yearly to a local student who is active in their community and planning on advancing their education in business and entrepreneurial studies. Also offered by PABA are community grants to area nonprofits. They also contribute heavily to Celebrate Plover.
For membership information, visit www.ploverbiz.org.