By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Growing membership and increasing fundraising are two goals Chelsea Business Alliance members have as they mark the organization’s two-year anniversary.

“I’m real pleased and proud that we’ve made it this far,” CBA President Dr. Ben Smith said at a luncheon Oct. 14 at Chelsea City Hall. “You people are here because you have a vision. You see an opportunity.”

The CBA currently has about 40 members, but Smith said the group’s goal is to increase to 60-80 members this year.

“We want you to reach out to folks you know,” Smith said. “We see this as part of growing this community.”

Smith reflected on the scholarship fund the CBA started last year for a Chelsea High School student in Future Business Leaders of America.

The first CBA scholarship, worth $3,000, was awarded to CHHS senior Jake Cotton in May.

“It’s huge,” Smith said of the scholarship. “To be only in existence two years, that’s big. This year, we have bigger goal. We want to be at $10,000.”

The CBA’s second Flapjack Fundraiser for the scholarship fund is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s in Chelsea.

Tickets are $5 each for a pancake, sausage and orange juice or coffee breakfast, and may be purchased before the event from CBA members or at the door with cash or check.

The next CBA monthly membership luncheon will be held Nov. 4. Attendees will tour Grandview Medical Center with State Sen. Slade Blackwell.

Lunch is $10 per person, and reservations are required. Only CBA members may reserve a seat on the bus until Oct. 23, after which reservations will be open to guests.

“These are opportunities we’ve been able to build and relationships we’ve been able to build,” Smith said. “We’ve got opportunities for folks to get involved.”

Smith invited members to sign up for scholarship, fundraising and membership committees.

In August 2016, the CBA will host a Mayor’s Forum with local mayoral candidates.

Smith said the CBA is getting ready to move forward with its new website, a $6,000 venture for which the city of Chelsea has agreed to reimburse half to the group.

The website is being designed by ZeeKee Interactive.

“It’s going to be clean, modern and highly interactive,” David Barry with ZeeKee said.