Business View Civil & Municipal - May 2023

24 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 fun. The Downtown Salem Partnership made up of downtown businesses, and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce are both strong supporters of the continued growth and vibrancy in the city. With 5 parks and a 220-acre lake, Salem has ample outdoor recreation opportunities for the over 200,000 visitors each year. Indoor sports and fitness options are available at the popular 50,000 square foot Salem Community Center and CenterPlex. Julie Needs, Executive Director of Sustainable Opportunities Development Center (SOD), talks about the value of these amenities, sharing, “We know that in attracting a workforce and in attracting additional employers to the community we have to be doing community development as well. We have to have the assets that people want in the community in which they’re going to live and work.”