Randy Welch– Board Chair

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce experienced an extremely successful year in 2009.

We again received national recognition from American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) by being named a “Chamber of the Year” qualifier for the fifth consecutive year. We also were recognized for being one of the top 10 Chambers in the nation (at our income level in 2008) in Membership Performance in two out of three areas: Number of New Members and New Member Dollars.

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

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Paul Brown, Division Chair

Committee Chairs – Paul Brown, Cathy Griffin and Cindy Hart

The Chamber’s Business Council chalked up another outstanding year in 2009 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 to Home Instead Senior Care.

The Chamber co-sponsored with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the Salisbury Rowan Economic Development Commission a “Tapping the Billions” Conference for almost 100 businesses wanting to learn how to obtain government contracts. We also partnered with The Salisbury Post, County of Rowan and City of Salisbury on a “$20 on the 20^th” promotion encouraging Rowan County citizens to spend money locally.

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. Additionally, the Chamber launched a counseling partnership during the year with UNC Charlotte’s Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC). Use of the BRC by both start-up and existing companies continues to be exceptional with almost 200 users in 2009.

The Industrial Association’s 30-plus members participated in regular get-togethers that included plant tours of Supply One, Food Lion and Centurion Medical Products and a “Lunch & Learn” on Energy Conservation by Square D IPaCS and Duke Energy. A Major Employers Directory covering some 70 companies representing 20,000 jobs also was published and Certificates of Origin were issued for area manufacturers exporting their products.

The Chamber’s Women In Business networking group met quarterly in 2009 to share ideas, information and network. An average of 60 women attended each event.

In the agriculture arena, we again supported numerous agricultural awards and projects such as the Junior Dairy Show and Farm-City Day in conjunction with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. We also co-sponsored a Rowan County Agricultural Tour for elected officials.

WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION

Greg Edds, Division Chair

Committee Chairs –Burt Brinson, Greg Edds, Julie Gainer, and Deb Young

The Chamber continued to serve as Rowan County’s information source with more then 750,000 referrals and inquiries from new businesses, new residents, visitors, business travelers and the general public. To help accommodate the traffic, a Relocation Guide was printed and also offered on line. The Chamber continued to compile its “Economic Indicators” report during the year and sent it to the membership quarterly.

The Federal and State Affairs Committee continued its aggressive agenda in 2009 and took positions on almost 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 the Governor and state legislators via one-on-one meetings and a Legislative Breakfast that attracted more than 100 business leaders. Issues discussed with state legislators and our Congressional delegation included transportation, health insurance, regulations, energy, employer mandates, workforce development, workers compensation, roads (including replacement of the I-85 Yadkin Bridge), taxes and economic development incentives. An Elected Officials Directory also was printed (which included almost 100 different officials) and sent to all Chamber members. We also continued to offer free membership in the North Carolina State Chamber for Chamber members with ten or less employees.

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 for the Salisbury City Council race was held in conjunction with Catawba College and The Salisbury Post. We also supported Candidate Forums for town Boards in China Grove, Rockwell and Spencer. Several meetings were held with Rowan County Mayors to discuss numerous issues of common interest including development of the I-85 corridor and state and federal government funding.

The Chamber continued to represent the business community before numerous area groups including the County Commission, Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, Board of Education, Tourism Development Authority, City of Salisbury and Regional Roads Committee.

Education remained a very high priority for the Chamber in 2009. We paid special tribute to area educators and students by sponsoring the Annual New Teacher Reception, Teacher of the Year Award and Workforce Development Award.

A tremendous amount of effort continues to go into the Chamber’s education advocacy initiative—Rowan Partners for Education (RPE). This citizen-led initiative will meet the challenges of and offer support and fact-driven reasoning to public school improvement in Rowan County. Challenges include: 1) Hiring, training and retaining the best of the best personnel; 2) Increasing parental engagement, support and empowerment and 3) Decreasing the dropout rate. RPE is located in the Chamber and continues to move forward with its aggressive program.

The Workforce Development Alliance continued its efforts in 2009 including the “Geared Up 4 Success Campaign” which encompasses one-on-one counseling with graduating seniors, website, banners, and newspaper and television 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 17^th class of 20-plus participants in 2009 and began its 18^th year of developing a pool of informed leaders for the many important public and private leadership positions throughout Rowan County. We also continued our support of the very successful Communities in Schools of Rowan County (Stay-in-School) initiative.

MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Brian Miller, Division Chair

Committee Chairs – Tom Loeblein and Brian Miller

The Chamber continued progress in 2009 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 (110 new members recruited) and the monthly Business After Hours Membership Mixer and Business Showcase. An average of 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, new member reception and other mixers. The organization also recognized its annual Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of the Year—Paul Brown of W.A. Brown & Son. The Chamber’s membership rolls, involvement and support remained among the highest in the organization’s history.

The Chamber’s website…www.rowanchamber.com…was upgraded and includes information on the organization, its members, a relocation guide, information request form, links, Business Resource Center and other pertinent data. The web site continues 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 2009, almost 750 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.

Thanks to the many, many volunteers who made 2009 an excellent year for the

Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.