We’re three weeks into the New Year and the Regional Chamber has hit the ground running. But before we put 2011 too far into our rear view mirror, I want to highlight a few successes and commend our staff on a job well done. Here are some of the “stand-outs”:
- We had great success helping companies – small and large – invest in the Flint area and diversify their businesses through government contracting.
- We continued to see strong participation in our youth education and training programs – YouthQuest and TeenQuest – and gain widespread recognition across the country.
- We ended the year on solid footing with more than 900 business members
- We continued to form new partnerships and collaborative efforts that will move the needle on creating new jobs such as the I-69 International Trade Corridor Next Michigan/Aerotropolis designation, e3 Innovation Network, Michigan Economic Development Corporation initiatives and other collaborative efforts.
- We hosted a Familiarization Tour through which we exposed a half dozen international site selectors to the many assets in our region that would be advantageous to businesses looking to relocate or build new facilities.
- And, in 2011 we restructured our organization and added new resources to develop a talented, diverse team that meets our needs today and into the future. This positions our organization to provide the very highest level of service for our customers and the Flint-Genesee County community.
These successes have placed our organization in a strong position for continued success in 2012.
We have just completed our 2012-2014 Strategic Plan, and our course is set. Our focus remains on what’s most important for our community, our state and our nation, and that’s investment, jobs… and MORE jobs!
We’ll continue our economic gardening efforts nurturing local companies and helping to grow their businesses.
We will boost our efforts to market and enhance the image of Flint-Genesee County.
We will collaborate with our education partners to develop career preparation programs and workforce training.
We will do these things and more to ensure a strong value proposition for our members.
The bottom line: We are determined to work tirelessly toward the reinvention of our region.
What are your plans for 2012?