2007 REPORT TO INVESTORS

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce again experienced another extremely successful year in 2007.  Among the highlights was the most successful Membership Drive in the 82-year history of the organization.

Through the efforts of some 60 dedicated volunteers, the Chamber’s annual new member recruitment effort generated almost 200 new members for the organization and surpassed our financial goal by 100%.  As we closed out the year, the total number of Chamber members was approaching 1,100.  This level of support from the business community demonstrates the organization’s effectiveness in leading the way in community development initiatives.

The following summarizes the Chamber’s many accomplishments during 2007.  We are extremely indebted to and appreciative of the many volunteers who made this year so successful.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION-

Teresa VonCannon, Division Chair,

Committee Chairs –Paul Brown, Bob Craig and Linda Paskiewicz

The Chamber’s Small Business Council chalked up another outstanding year in 2007 with such projects as the annual Business Week Power Lunch (100-plus attendees) and Business Fair (a record 70-plus exhibitors).  We also awarded the Chamber Champion Small Business of the Year (Great American Publishing) and conducted some 75 business seminars in conjunction with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Business seminars attracted an average of 10 participants.

The Chamber remained THE clearinghouse for business assistance via our Business Resource Center (BRC) located in The Gateway and on the Chamber’s website.  The BRC includes personal computers, business counseling, electronic business resources, business periodicals, access to the World Wide Web, business plan software and more.  We also continued our very popular monthly “SBA Days” (U.S. Small Business Administration) where local business people or aspiring entrepreneurs can learn about SBA financing options through meetings with SBA economic development specialists.  “SBC Days” (Small Business Counseling) also were held monthly at the Chamber with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College counselors.  Use of the BRC by both start-up and existing companies continues to be exceptional with more than 100 users in 2007.

The Industrial Association’s 30-some members participated in regular get-togethers that included plant tours of Hitachi Metals, National Starch & Chemical and Rousch Fenway Racing.  The group also hosted a “Lean Manufacturing” Panel Luncheon.  A Major Employers Directory covering some 75 companies representing 25,000 jobs also was published and Certificates of Origin were issued for area manufacturers exporting their products. 

The Chamber’s Women Business Owners organization met regularly in 2007 to share ideas, information and network. 

In the agriculture arena, we again supported numerous agricultural awards and projects such as the Junior Dairy Show, Farm-City Day and Legislative Farm Tour in conjunction with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

WORKFORCE EDUCATION & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION-

Randy Welch, Division Chair,

Committee Chairs –Greg Edds, Julie Gainer, Randy Welch and Deb Young

The Chamber continued to serve as Rowan County’s information source with almost 600,000 referrals and inquiries (a 20% increase over 2006) from new businesses, new residents, visitors, business travelers, etc.  To help accommodate the traffic, a Relocation Guide was printed (and offered on line) which includes Real Estate, Apartment and Hotel Guides as well as additional information on Rowan County.  The Chamber continued to compile its “Economic Indicators” report during the year and sent it to the membership each quarter. 

The Federal and State Affairs Committee continued its aggressive agenda in 2007 and took positions on some 20 state and federal issues important to the Rowan County business community.  Our annual Washington, D.C. trip was a resounding success and we maintained communication with state legislators via one-on-one meetings (both in Rowan County and Raleigh) and a Legislative Breakfast that attracted more than 100 business leaders. Issues discussed with state legislators and other officials included roads, gas tax, incentives, high-speed rail and economic development.  An Elected Officials Directory also was printed (which included almost 100 different officials) and sent to all Chamber members. 

Numerous Rowan County issues were monitored and affected by the Chamber’s Local Affairs Committee and Task Force for Progress including land-use planning, incentives, water and sewer, U.S. Highway 70 and Interstate 85 reconstructions, funding for Rowan County roads and schools and economic development. 

 A Candidate Forum and Candidate Academy for municipal elections were held in conjunction with Catawba College and The Salisbury Post.   Several meetings also were held with Rowan County Mayors to discuss numerous issues of common interest including “Project Safe” (gang activity), the Rowan County Court System and Rowan Regional Medical Center.

The Chamber made formal and informal presentations to both Rowan County Commissioners and Salisbury City Council members on issues important to the Rowan County business community.  The organization also was represented at numerous Rowan County municipal meetings as well as the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, Rowan Jobs Initiative, Board of Education, Tourism Development Authority, City of Salisbury Land Development Ordinance Committee, Regional Roads Committee, Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization  and Alliance for Tomorrow.

Education remained a very high priority for the Chamber in 2007.  We paid special tribute to area educators and students by sponsoring the Annual New Teacher Reception, Teacher of the Year Breakfast and Workforce Development Award. 

A tremendous amount of effort continues to go into the Chamber’s education advocacy initiative—Rowan Partners for Education.  This citizen-led initiative will meet the challenges of an offer support and fact-driven reasoning to Public School Improvement in Rowan County.  Initial challenges include: 1) Hire, train and retain the best of the best personnel; 2) Increase parental engagement, support and empowerment; 3) Improve the high school achievement level and 4) Decrease the dropout rate.  The organization is located in the Chamber and continues to move forward with its aggressive program.

The Workforce Development Alliance continued its efforts in 2007 including the “Geared Up 4 Success Campaign” which encompasses one-on-one counseling with graduating seniors, a newly revised website, banners, career fairs and newspaper ads, all in an effort to develop the kind of skilled workforce that the Rowan County business community needs.

 

The “Leadership Rowan” Leadership Development Program graduated its fifteenth class of 20-plus participants in 2007 and began its 16^th year of developing a pool of informed leaders for the many important public and private leadership positions throughout Rowan County.  We also continued as a major financial contributor to the very successful Communities in Schools of Rowan County (Stay-in-School) initiative.

 

The North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) also was a high priority as we partnered with the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce on entrepreneurial development and sub-contracting opportunities.

 

MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT DIVISION-

 

Skip Wood, Division Chair,

 

Committee Chairs – Tom Loeblein, Pete Teague and  Skip Wood

 

The Chamber continued progress in 2007 toward its goal of “Total Organization Excellence”.  The Chamber’s membership development efforts experienced another great year with several successful events and accomplishments.  The Annual Meeting attracted another good crowd and other successes included the Annual Leadership Retreat, membership drive (almost 200 new members recruited) and the monthly Business After Hours Membership Mixer and Business Showcase.  An average 150 members attended Business After Hours each month.

 

 The division also was responsible for member surveys, our award-winning membership directory/relocation guide, monthly newsletter (AT Work), monthly full-page newspaper ad, member broadcast e-mails, ribbon-cuttings, grand openings, new member reception and other mixers.  The organization also recognized its annual Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of the Year— Randy Welch of Duke Energy Carolinas.  The Chamber’s membership rolls, involvement and support remain among the highest in the organization’s history.

 

The Chamber website www.rowanchamber.com…was upgraded and includes information on the organization, its members, a relocation guide,  links, Business Resource Center and other pertinent data.  The web page has proven to be a popular internet site for local information.

 

The Chamber’s facility—The Gateway—continued to serve as a focal point for all of Rowan County.  In 2007, almost 800 different meetings were held in the building including Business Seminars, Corporate Meetings and Retreats, Training Sessions, Civic and Social Service Agency meetings and numerous other committees, task forces and boards. 

 

The Chamber’s Finance Committee continued to assist staff and volunteer leadership in preserving the overall financial integrity of the organization.