Grove Chamber, GLA, headed for Divorce?

The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Lake Association, which share a building on Highway 59 west of Grove, are looking for ways to avoid a divorce.
For more than five years the Grove Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Lake Association have shared the GLA-owned building, with the Chamber paying around $600/month for utilities, but no rent. With state funds of $80,000 cut this year to the GLA, it was suggested that the Chamber begin paying rent, about $700 per month to help the GLA offset expenses and do roof repairs that may cost up to $25,000.
The Grove Chamber initially did not react well to this idea and has looked at free office space downtown, owned by PSO. It believes the 10-year contract with GLA should be enforced, which provides for the Chamber to share the facilities on a no-rent basis.
"We want to work things out, we want to stay in the current building, and we're hopeful that we can do that, but we don't have a solution yet," said Greg Martin, President of the Grove Area Chamber.
Lisa Friden, Chamber Executive Director, said "we love this building, we love working with the GLA staff, and we don't want to leave. It is a good fit, the two of us together. We are sympathetic with them as we face similar problems if we don't continue our funding." She added that Congressman Dan Boren held his congressional retreat here last weekend "and we certainly requested his help on solving the funding problem."
As with most issues, there are at least two sides:
The Grand Lake Association and Grove Chamber do a lot of activities designed to encourage tourism and bring people to Grove. Being in the same building, constructed five years ago, made a lot of sense. In effect, both benefited from state funding, plus the Grove Chamber gets some money from the City.
The Chamber contends they raised at least half the funds nececessary to build the GLA building, and paid for the telephone system. The GLA works the reception desk. The building has been appraised at $500,000 and the building's debt is low, so the GLA could sell and move elsewhere, even to South Grand Lake and the proposed new Visitor Center above the Pensacola Dam. Or, they could find a small business which could pay some rent in the current building.
The Grand Lake Association was created in the 1950's and was responsible for a state law which says GRDA cannot take the lake below elevation 735; it conducts the Water Watch Program, the Pelican Fest, the Boat Show in Grove, and numerous other activities. It has dues- paying members, just as the Grove Chamber of Commerce. It's activities benefit Grove as well as the entire Grand Lake area.
The Chamber gets an annual appropriation from the City, but no state funds, and depends on member dues.
Should the GLA go out of business because the Grove Chamber refused to pay any rent, the Chamber would have the responsibility for this on its shoulders, says one observer, and might lose membership because of it.
Members of both organizations have expressed hope that the issue can be worked out. In the meantime, the roof leak remains a pressing issue because if it isn't fixed and the building gets wet inside, damage or mold may occur.