Jeff Franklin
2015 Chairman of the Board
Wow! This simply cannot be my last Chairman’s Column…the year has moved much too quickly! But reality has set in and I do know that my year as Chairman of this great organization is indeed coming to a close. In looking back, I can clearly see where the time went. We were extraordinarily busy in promoting economic growth and being your voice in 2015 which is the reason we exist. There are a few accomplishments I’d like to highlight as we enter the last month of the year:
- Economic Development and planning to take our efforts to help create jobs to a new level was a big focus for all of us, including our economic development partners. The North Star study was completed. The Chamber, GJEP and BIC reached unprecedented levels of collaboration between staffs and boards which will make us all more effective in the future. I’m also particularly proud of the leadership role the Chamber played in organizing a delegation to attend the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary. As one of the 17 attendees I can assure you that literally hundreds of companies knew we were there and we returned with 34 bona fide leads for business locations and expansions.
- Being the Voice of Business often puts us at odds with others but it is particularly important that policy makers understand how their decisions can help or hurt the job creators in our community. A case in point is the Grand Valley Drainage District’s enactment of a fee for storm water that inordinately burdens business and large nonprofit institutions. As of the printing of this newsletter the Chamber continues to look for ways to mitigate the impact on businesses while seeking a more global solution to the problem at hand.
- Almost every business manager I talk to insists that they have difficulty filling positions with qualified people. There is very obviously a gap between those seeking work and those offering employment opportunities. This year the Chamber took significant strides to partner with other community stakeholders, notably the School District and the Mesa County Workforce Center to put the resources into a fulltime workforce coordinator position that can assist our future workers through robust programs like the Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy and Hire Me First. Next year we will broaden our efforts to the existing labor force but I get ahead of myself.
You will hear more from me on the 2015 Chamber year at the Annual Banquet but rest assured the comments will be short. Looking ahead I am excited (in more ways than one) to hand the chief volunteer reins over to Matthew Breman. It has been a great year and I want to thank the dedicated board, hardworking staff and you the members for making it such an enjoyable task to lead this dynamic organization. See you at the banquet on January 29th.
Jeff Franklin, Chairman
Click here to download full version of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce December 2015 Newsletter.