 Capital Campaign Initiatives
In 2006, the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of
Commerce launched a five-year comprehensive
capital campaign to fund priorities
determined by community leaders. This
economic development initiative will provide
funding resources for several important
Chamber programs. The annual campaign goal
is $496,000, with a five-year total goal of
raising $2,480,000.
Initiative One
Business and Economic Development
The newest economic development initiative
of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of
Commerce was created to aid in work force
recruitment and retention. ChamberPRO, or
“People Recruitment Outreach,” is designed
to recruit a highly qualified work force for
existing industry within our area.
Investing in business and economic
development means investing in the
community’s future through specific
strategies:
- Connecting job seekers to employers
by hosting job fairs, providing on-line
job postings, offering a resume
database, and providing resume
assistance.
- Promoting Rogers-Lowell area job
opportunities to candidates outside the
area by recruiting at regional job
fairs.
- Providing information on corporate
and continuing education programs
through partners.
- Providing relocation materials to
promote the area, including a DVD.
- Coordinating assistance with state
agencies.
- Providing community tours for
candidates of local business and
industry.
Annual Budget = $111,600
Five-year Total = $558,000
Initiative Two
Governmental Affairs
The mission for Government Relations within
the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
is to provide a comprehensive, non-partisan
state and local political program to promote
and protect our strong local economy. It is
imperative that we solidify our political
relationships at all levels of government to
provide more effective representation of our
businesses.
We are all affected by the action of
government at all levels in the areas of
funding, regulation, taxes, quality growth,
education, infrastructure, policy direction,
amenities, retail and job recruitment, work
force and quality-of-life issues. Currently,
we rely on the State Chamber of Commerce and
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to define most
of our key state and national issues. While
both are good organizations, the voice of
local business is not always represented
within those organizations, and we are
finding more frequently that our goals
differ.
Working with the federal, state and local
government is an enormous undertaking and
will require the work of an experience
professional. This professional will be
responsible for key outcomes:
- Focusing on local issues that can
have a positive influence on business.
- Monitoring issues that can be costly
and unfriendly to business and work
toward their elimination and defeat.
- Working with federal, state and
local government.
- Helping guide the business community
as we continue to grow.
- Getting and keeping our members
engaged and informed in a timely manner.
- Creating a world-class school system
with development and implementation of a
strategic plan.
Annual Budget = $186,000
Five-year Total = $930,000
Initiative Three
Small Business Outreach
It is the desire of our community to
proactively build and encourage small and
minority business development and expansion.
A program driven by small businesses will
assist in meeting the needs of the small
business community, enhancing revenue and
protecting market share. Over 80 percent of
the Chamber’s members are small businesses
with less than 50 employees.
The Small Business Council and Multicultural
Committee may serve as a link to address
concerns of small businesses, such as saving
money, marketing, educational programs, and
networking. The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber
of Commerce can provide innovative programs
as well as assistance and technology to aid
and increase business opportunities for new
and existing small businesses.
Our outreach program will offer services
tailored to meet the needs of a small and
minority business owner:
- Forming a Small Business Council for
companies with fewer than 50 employees
to create a forum for discussing small
business concerns and challenges and
finding ways to address them.
- Assisting minority businesses to
grow and acculturate into the community
through networking groups, guidance,
education and information.
- Offering professional development
and continuing education opportunities
on topics of interest to small
businesses.
- Serving as a communications
clearinghouse, connecting small
businesses to tools, materials and
resources to help them start and
successfully build their business.
- Recognizing outstanding small
businesses for their efforts to improve
Rogers and Lowell.
Annual Budget =$99,200
Five-year Total = $496,000
Initiative Four
Creating and Defining the Destination
The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
intends to work with existing partners to
aggressively position the community as the
destination of choice for business and
leisure travel, job creation, company
expansion, new industry and retail shopping.
The area is positioned to become the hub for
industry, recreation and tourism within and
beyond a 100-mile radius. Increased funding
and staffing will be dedicated to the
aggressive pursuit of city-wide weekend
business including meetings, conferences and
conventions.
The strategy for destination marketing
advancement includes maintaining a
consistent advertising, sales and promotion
presence, pursuing frequent editorial
content, creating top-notch collateral and
promotional materials, and an emphasis on
strong local partnerships and public
relations:
- Establishing the area as the premier
destination for retail sales, services,
tourism and entertainment.
- Partnering to market the destination
for world-class health care and related
services.
- Targeting sales and marketing
efforts to attract meetings and
conventions.
- Creating a strategic plan with
government and developers for retail
promotion.
- Pursuing specific niche markets
including sports tourism and leisure
group travel.
Annual Budget = $99,200
Five-year Total = $496,000 |
