Strategic Plan

 

In 2012 the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce will ACT!

Advocacy. Connections. Talent.

Advocacy

The Kalamazoo region’s
business climate is regularly compared side-by-side with other regions around
the State and world, so it is imperative that the region’s tax, fee and
regulatory structures are fair and not burdensome to the business community.

This is especially true for the roughly 85 percent of
Chamber members who are small businesses and who require a level playing field
if not a competitive edge in the marketplace so that they can prosper and
create jobs.

That’s why a big part of our work
at The Chamber is to be a watchful eye and fierce advocate for the business
community especially with local units of government because we have the clout
and responsibility to do so. Sometimes alone but more often as part of a
coalition we work on members behalf at state and federal levels of government
too. We serve as a unified voice for all businesses in the region, and we work
to enhance and protect members’ bottom line by:

• managing
  negotiations with government leaders behind the scenes 
• monitoring
  and reviewing proposed regulations and ordinances/legislation that
  results in resources devoted to support or opposition to issue
• recruiting,
  training and supporting job growth friendly candidates
• fighting
  for business interests in the media

The Chamber is always working strategically on members’
behalf, and each year pursues an aggressive, proactive legislative agenda at
all levels of government.  Leading off
the first half of 2011 will see us aggressively engaged on these issues

• Opposing
  ‘Local Preference’ initiatives that cause tax payers to pay a premium for
  goods and services
• Planning
  and zoning ordinances that are poorly designed, vaguely defined and
  inhibit job creation.
• Support
  a reasonable and stable state business tax system that replaces the
  Michigan Business Tax and eliminates the surcharge.
• Support
  efforts to change the current regulatory climate that assumes business
  owners are unscrupulous and dishonest. 
  Starting with elimination of the ‘price-gun’ law.
• Promote
  consolidation, partnership opportunities, and efficiencies between units
  of government and educational entities, starting with reforming PA 312.

A critical step in the process of
influencing public policy is to influence who runs and, ultimately, is elected
or appointed to positions of authority.

The Chamber will continue to
explore better methods to prepare people for public office and encourage their
participation in the electoral process.

We will Recruit and Retain
job-growth candidates (city, county, township)

• We will identify incumbents (elected and
  appointed) who are; already influencing policy to grow jobs, are interested in
  learning how to be more pro-jobs and those who hold seats we should target for
  upgrade.
• We will identify and catalogue elected and
  appointed positions that are critical to the job growth process in the region.
  Information in the catalogue will include critical dates (filing deadline,
  length of term, etc) application process, petitioning requirements, average
  cost, etc.
• A pool of potential candidates will be created
  from Leadership Kalamazoo alumni, major employers, non-profits, associations,
  etc.
• In partnership with like-motivated groups we
  will create and operate a ‘political leadership institute’ with topics
  including; regional economic development, political strategies, volunteer
  recruitment and local issues.
• It is important to recognize these efforts are
  enhanced when aligned closely with Kalamazoo Regional Chamber
  PAC Strategic Plan in order to provide resources to
  candidates such as; first and last checks, voter lists, marketing opportunities
  and independent media.

Connections

The Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce will
be a recognized resource for business and professional contacts.

• Provide
  high-quality, value-added opportunities for members to 1)interact, fostering
  profitable business relationships and 2) learn, enabling business improvement. 
  
  • Our
    events will be recognized for their high value
    
    • Measures include
      
      • Budget success
      • Growth in attendance
      • Evaluations on quality
    • Our
      events will be recognized for
      
      • ‘Marquee’ speakers
      • High value content
      • Fun
    • Premier
      events include
      
      • Annual Meeting
      • Golf Outing and Tennis Tournament
      • Sustainability Expo
      • Quarterly General membership meetings
      • Economic Forecast
      • Taste of the Chamber
      • Community Awards

• Develop future
  Chamber and community leaders and networks. 
  
  • Continue
    flagship Leadership Kalamazoo program, persistently seeking ways to improve its
    value and effectiveness.
  • Identify a strong program that engages and puts into
    service the more than 600 local Leadership Kalamazoo alumni.
    
    • Non-profit Board placements
    • Develop new and relevant value-added components
      to Leadership Kalamazoo, including additional emphasis on leadership through
      ongoing training and development.
      
      • Affinity group programs
        
        • Graduation
          Class Groups
        • Community
          Interest groups
          
          • Environmental clean up
          • Education
          • Gender,
            Race, Religion based groups
        • Coffee with a Leader
        • Peace Jam
        • Catalyst
          University

Talent – Attraction and
Retention

The regions with the highest concentration of talent on the
planet win.

At a time when talent can go anywhere in the world, our
talent attraction and retention program will position the region as a region of
choice by:

• Developing
  a strategy and the resources to position and establish regional employers
  as the most diverse and flexible in the country.  The region can
  already claim being home to many “best companies to work for”.
  
  • Best
    Practice Councils
    
    • Diversity
      in the workplace
  • Seminars
    
    • Flextime
    • Telecommuting
    • Generational
      strategies
  • Programs/Benefits
    for employee retention
    
    • Health
      Insurance
    • Optional
      Benefits
    • Temporary
      Housing
    • Financial
      Services for Foreign Nationals
    • Gas
      Cards

• Developing
  a strategy and the resources to position and establish the regional talent
  pool as being the most engaged in the country.  The more involved our
  professionals are in their communities, the more likely they will stay and
  the more influence they can have on what the region becomes. 
  
  • Our
    Young Professionals group will be disbanded and reinvented as a strong,
    member based, employee retention program that reveals the region to our
    talent as the best place to live learn and grow together.
  • We
    will develop a regional internship program for Kalamazoo to close the gap between
    companies in need of fresh talent and students looking to gain career
    experience. We will infuse the region with innovative, imaginative,
    idea-driven interns prepared for the 21st Century jobs while creating an
    intern-friendly culture. Working on behalf of employers, students and the
    community, our internship program will be critical to develop the talent our
    members need to be competitive locally, nationally and globally.
  • We
    will support the work of The Learning Network
    
    • Universal
      preschool
    • Engagement
      of the business community
      
      • Employees
        encouraged to attend Parent/Teacher conferences
      • Reading
      • Mentoring
      • Internships
    • Lift
      up literacy
      
      • Recovery
      • Family
    • Evaluate
      for data supported results
  • We
    will support the work of Communities in Schools – Kalamazoo
• Develop
  a strategy and the resources to help employers market a fresh and unified
  message about the Kalamazoo Region to targeted talent pools.
  
  • Jobsite
    will be reinvigorated and completely populated
  • A
    new strategy will be created around our incumbent Video, Guide and
    Packet.
  • Strategic
    partnerships with alumni groups from WMU, K College, Hackett, etc.

 

Strategic Plan 2010-2011